A colourful, carefree collection with vibrant patterns. www.etro.com | Images courtesy of Etro.

The House introduces Gucci Pet Collection —a wide-ranging selection of items designed for dogs and cats that combines high-quality materials and craftsmanship with innovation, and many of the House’s signature motifs. The offering includes collars and harnesses in plain leather, GG canvas, Web stripe, or the Herbarium or all-over geometric G print, and embellished with details like the Interlocking G logo or studs. For pets who travel often, comfortable carriers in GG canvas are also part of the mix. Apparel includes polos, T-shirts, knitwear, and coats. For more info visit www.gucci.com (www.gucci.com/us/en/st/capsule/gucci-pet-collection) Credits: Creative Director - Alessandro Michele | Art Director & photographer - Max Siedentopf

The World is waiting... With more than 25 years of experience, NUBA (www.nubausa.com) has not only offered one of the world’s best curated adventure and travel, but also revolutionized the luxury travel sector by providing a unique service that exceeds customer expectations. NUBA expeditions was founded in 1994 as a small travel club specializing in discovering unexplored African territories, as explorers once did in the XIX century. The company name NUBA comes from the indigenous people who live in the mountains of Sudan and whom the founders had the privilege of meeting. The company reflects the great tradition and warrior spirit of the Nuba people. NUBA offers the following travel services: Luxury Safaris Tailor Made Safaris in Africa Flying in a balloon over the endless African plains, watching fiery sunsets, sleeping in colonial lodges in the middle of the savannah, having long conversations around the campfire after a day of safari, watching the mountain gorillas through the mist, living with tribes like the Samburu or the elegant Maasai are just a few of NUBA’s authentic customized African safaris. Exotic Honeymoons An Unforgettable Journey of a New Life Together There’s no better way to start your life together with a unique honeymoon - from pure relaxation on a secluded tropical beach to sports and wildlife adventures. Multi-Generational Family Trips Creating an Album of Memories Travel brings families together that grow in size and complexity over the years. And NUBA helps create shared family experiences and memories that last generations. Tailor-Made Adventures Life-changing travel experiences NUBA travel adventures are designed to change your inner self and help you discover the Word by opening new perspectives. Luxury Rentals Whether it’s a villa, yacht or jet, NUBA brings family or friends together for a luxurious experience where memories are made. Once In A Lifetime Adventures If you are looking for something completely unique, the team at NUBA has extensive experience with once-in-a-lifetime adventures you will not find anywhere else. NUBA’s Top Pick 2022 And what better way to start experiencing NUBA’s services by booking a North Pole experience: OceanSky Cruises: North Pole Expedition Be part of history and reserve a seat on the world’s first airship to land at the North Pole, brought you by NUBA and OceanSky Cruises. Swedish operator OceanSky Cruises allows you to reach and experience the most remote and untouched regions in style and comfort, without leaving a footprint. Airships use Lighter-Than-Air Technology, offering a sustainable and carbon-free flight experience to travel luxuriously while enjoying large and comfortable cabins, lounges, a fine dining area and panoramic windows unlike any other current means of air travel. Skip airports and connecting flights and fly directly to remote and unexplored corners of the world. Land on the North Pole by airship, the largest flying vehicle in the world. NUBA’s North Pole expedition begins with an evening departure from Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost city, on the Arctic island of Svalbard. On the flight 90 degrees north, you can explore and observe wildlife such as polar bears and whales until sunset. The next day, wake up in a new world and take your first step toward the North Pole, a new world of endless white ice and vistas. Enjoy a delightful lunch at the North Pole before flying across the Arctic landscape back to Longyearbyen. Disembark the airship the following morning after a hearty breakfast. Contact information: www.nubausa.com Instagram: @nubatravel Facebook: @nubatravel TikTok: @nubatravel Email: usa@nuba.com By ML Travel | Images courtesy of Tom Hegen, Kirt x Thomsen and HAV & Design Q

The iconic Bahamian resort announces upcoming renovations and new concierge program. Entertaining guests for nearly 25 years, the Bahamas’ Atlantis Paradise Island is ready to level up with a multimillion-dollar renovation. The list of amenities currently offered at the world-renowned pink luxury resort is already quite impressive. Standouts include their 30,000 square-foot Mandara Spa, a casino (slated for an expansion and refresh), state-of-the-art fitness center, 400-seat movie theatre, award-winning 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf, Aquaventure (141-acre waterscape featuring slides and river rides, eleven pools, and five miles of white sand beaches), the largest open-air marine habitat in the world (featuring over 50,000 marine animals from 250 species), Dolphin Cay (a 14-acre marine mammal habitat), and excellent dining options by celebrity chefs José Andrés, Nobu Matsuhisa, and Todd English. Presently, Atlantis features five different lodging options, including The Cove, which offers 600 suites with balconies and butler service; an adults-only pool (slated for a refresh); outdoor and indoor gaming; and delicious fare at FISH by Chef José Andrés. Cove guests also have access to the reimagined Lapis Club, which offers breakfast, hors d’oeuvres, and a full bar daily. This year, The Cove will add restaurant, Paranza, by Michelin-starred Chef Michael White (who joins Matsuhisa and Andrés, making Atlantis the only resort in the region to boast three Michelin-starred chefs!) to their roster. The Royal East Tower and West Tower guestroom and suite renovations, including the West Tower’s famous Bridge Suite, will be completed this summer and onward. And the new resort, Somewhere Else (slated for 2024), in partnership with David Grutman of Groot Hospitality, will replace The Beach Tower, and offer 400 guestrooms and suites, excellent restaurants, pools, high-end amenities, and live performances. To entice guests now, Atlantis recently launched Sapphire Services, a bespoke concierge platform offered exclusively to guests. The Sapphire Services team is “dedicated to crafting and curating extraordinary one-of-a-kind guest experiences” for guests, from private culinary adventures and VIP programming at Dolphin Cay to collaborations with high-end brands, private jets, and yacht charters. For a unique experience, partake in Kamalame Cay’s Chef’s Farm/Ocean-to-Table lunch. We were chauffeured roundtrip from Atlantis to Nassau’s Odyssey Airport and took a chartered Coco Bahama Air (an Atlantis’ partner) seaplane to Kamalame Cay on private Andros Island. Once there, we were able to explore the Caribbean retreat. Snorkeling, bonefishing, and the overwater spa were all a part of the experience. Then, lunch was served. While seated under a palapa on the beach, overlooking the tranquil cerulean sea, we relished a leisurely multi-course lunch served family-style. Each dish either featured fresh seafood and locally sourced ingredients, paired with Young’s Fine Wines in Nassau. Canapés included an applewood smoked bacon with spicy Andros honey; seared tuna with wasabi mayo, sesame soy dressing, and wonton crisps; and stone crab croquettes with sriracha. Paired with a Kamalame Spritz, these light bites were divine. Next, we had a tasty heirloom tomato salad with homemade mozzarella, avocado, mango, Thai basil, and citrus pesto; salt and pepper conch; and flame-grilled flatbread served with rosé. For the main courses, we devoured the whole red snapper with tamarind served with grilled broccolini, steamed rice parcels in banana leaves, and pumpkin two ways, paired with chardonnay; and the blackened Mahi Mahi with ginger, lemongrass, and fresh coriander served with iceberg lettuce cups, chopped peanuts, hoisin sauce, and crispy noodles, paired with Chablis. Dessert was unlike anything I have ever tasted –avocado ice cream with toasted coconut, white chocolate sauce, farm berries, and salted cronuts served in a green coconut. It sounds different, but I assure you, theses flavors together were outstanding – refreshing, tropical, and so delicious. This treat was served with Coconut Cartel rum. Every dish was fresh and bursting with so many amazing flavors. Our experience was unbelievably magical, and one that I highly recommend. Seaplane excursions to Spanish Wells and Harbour Island will launch later this year. Guests can also visit neighboring islands by chartering a boat docked at Atlantis Marina with Pieces of 8, Nassau’s premier boat charter company, and take day trips to Exuma and Eleuthera. For more information about Sapphire Services, visit: SapphireServices.com. If you’re looking for a travel destination that has it all, escape to the Bahamas’ Atlantis. For more information on Atlantis, visit: www.atlantisbahamas.com. Words by Vanessa Pascale Rust | Photo Credit: Atlantis Paradise Island

Fresh and never frozen Florida Stone crab is the hallmark of Truluck’s commitment to quality and sustainability. This commitment is extended to all offerings. Truluck’s never serves endangered or overfished species, and always follows Ocean Conservancy guideline. Each year Truluck’s captures, prepares, and serves 200,000 pounds of fresh Florida Stone crab. Relationships with crabbers spanning several decades ensures deliveries from trap to table in less than 24 hours. This guarantees quality, freshness, and the flavor a Stone crab claw from Truluck’s is famous for. Sustainably sourcing iconic items like Florida Stone crab comes with great responsibility. Unlike other fisheries, the claw is the only part of the crab harvested. Stone crab are known for their large claws which account for more than half of their body weight. Once pulled, the crab is returned to the water and given ample time for regeneration, preserving the life of the crab. The fresh season runs from October to May and all Stone crab harvesting is halted outside of these months. If you find yourself with Stone crab in June, it isn’t fresh and you aren’t at Truluck’s. COMPANY CULTURE Truluck’s invests heavily in the development and recognition of their people. From busboys to leadership, there are many employees whose tenure exceeds the industry standard for length of time with one company. Managing Partner, Kim Vazquez and Chef Odel Arencibia are wonderful examples of individuals who plays a crucial role in building the culture of Truluck’s through kindness, knowledge, and leadership. “We treat each other with the respect and dignity deserved. We find joy and self-worth in our work. We mentor those around us. We work hard to be great teammates. We help shape and contribute to the culture most have always wanted and could never find. We may not have been the first stop, but we work hard to be the last.” – Kim Vazquez, Managing Partner GLOBALLY SOURCED Today, Fresh Florida stone crab claws still take center stage, available in three standard sizes, alongside other seafood offerings such as Prime Alaskan King Crab, South African Lobster Tail, colossal New England Scallops, Dutch Yellowtail, Norwegian Salmon and Hawaiian Ahi Tuna. Cuts of beef are hand selected from true artisans with over 100 years of experience. All steaks are seasoned and broiled at 1200 degrees and finished with Truluck’s house steak seasoning. At Truluck’s, the beverage program is built to complement and enhance the culinary experience with over 70 wines by the glass and 250 by the bottle selections allowing for flexibility in dining and menu pairings. Truluck’s will have something for everyone from the adventurous to the connoisseur. Cocktails are lovingly hand-crafted with all the best spirits and mixers. More on Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab Established in 1992 with the opening of its first location in Houston, TX, Truluck’s is proud to be privately held and fiercely independent. Since its inception, they have been committed to staying relevant to the markets by continually evolving resulting in a premier high-end seafood restaurant for many years. Today, Truluck’s has expanded to serve diners in twelve markets throughout Texas and Florida, in southern California, Chicago, and most recently in Washington, D.C. For more information about Truluck’s, please visit www.trulucks.com. Visit Truluck’s on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Truluck’s

Bryant Miller Olive P.A. (BMO) is pleased to announce that eight shareholders representing its Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Atlanta offices have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023. Additionally, Randall C. Clement, Esq. was designated “Best Lawyer of the Year” in Orlando for Public Finance, a distinction presented to only one attorney in a given geographical region and practice area for each edition. Clement has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for the past 18 years. He has been involved in the public finance practice since 1982 and has extensive experience in state and local government revenue bond financings in the State of Florida. Kenneth R. Artin, Esq. was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 in Orlando in the field of Public Finance Law. This is the 16th year that Artin has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America. He has been actively practicing public finance law since 1986, and has represented municipalities, counties, public and not-for-profit colleges and universities, as well as special taxing districts as disclosure counsel, bond counsel and special development counsel. For the 18th year in a row, Duane D. Draper, Esq. has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 in Tampa in the field of Public Finance Law. In 2020, he was recognized as Best Lawyers® Public Finance Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Tampa. Since 1989, Draper has specialized in public finance, either as an attorney or investment banker. He currently chairs the firm’s Public Finance Group and serves as the Business Development Chair. Denise M. Heekin, Esq., managing shareholder of the firm’s Miami office, was selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 in Miami in the fields of Employment Law, Management and Litigation, Labor and Employment. Heekin is Board-Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Florida Bar and she has represented management exclusively in the practice of labor and employment law throughout her entire legal career. This is her second year being recognized in The Best Lawyers in America. JoLinda L. Herring, Esq., BMO’s CEO and managing shareholder, was selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 in Miami in the field of Public Finance Law. Herring’s practice is dedicated to municipal law, governmental tax-exempt financings, and blue-sky securities law, with an expertise in commercial paper programs. She been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for the past five years. Leonard T. Marcinko, Esq. was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 in Atlanta in the field of Public Finance Law. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for the past 18 years. Marcinko has more than 35 years of wide-ranging experience dealing with federal tax issues associated with the sale and issuance of tax-exempt bonds, as a government lawyer, as a private law practitioner, and as a public finance investment banker. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for the past 18 years. David C. Miller, Esq., a shareholder who works in the firm’s Miami office, was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 in Miami in the field of Employment Law, Management. This is the first year for Miller to achieve this distinction. He is board-certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Florida Bar. An attorney for more than 20 years, his focus is on labor unions, employment litigation and human resources counseling, exclusively representing management. He also represents public sector employers who sponsor pension plans. Alan S. Zimmet, Esq., who is based in the firm’s Tampa office, was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 in Tampa in the field of Municipal Law and Litigation, Municipal. Zimmet is a member of the firm’s Litigation group and is also a member of the State and Local Government Practice Group. He has more than 35 years of experience and is board certified by The Florida Bar in City, County, and Local Government Law. This is Zimmet’s second year being recognized in The Best Lawyers in America. “It is an outstanding accomplishment that eight shareholders at Bryant Miller Olive P.A. have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America,” said Herring. “These recognitions are a testament to our dedication to providing extraordinary legal counsel in a variety of practice areas.” Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. Best Lawyers has published its list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries. The entire The Best Lawyers in America list can be viewed at www.bestlawyers.com/America. About Bryant Miller Olive With a distinguished history of over 50 years serving its clients' needs, Bryant Miller Olive represents governments, businesses and agencies in legal matters relating to public finance, real estate, state and local government law, complex transactions, project finance, litigation, and labor and employment. Firm attorneys are often called upon to handle some of the most complex legal issues in the boardroom and in the courtroom. The firm has offices in Tampa, Tallahassee, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit http://www.bmolaw.com. About Best Lawyers®: Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. For more information, visit www.bestlawyers.com. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Best Laywers

OutFit – an innovative mobile fitness service bringing convenient, affordable, expertly-led private training and group fitness classes to parks and neighborhoods – will host a pyramid style workout class at Riverside Market in Plantation on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Riverside Market is an authentic, local hangout with a selection of over 600 craft beers and a mouth-watering, beer-inspired food menu. The cozy environment and self-serve coolers make it the ultimate location to kick back and pop open a cold brew while enjoying some of the many delicious items on the menu. After each OutFit class, participants receive a 20% discount on their bill and are encouraged to mingle and enjoy Riverside Market’s menu items. Participants will endure a 60-minute heart pumping, muscle building, full body workout. Led by “Outfitter in Charge” Alison Gold, the pyramid HIIT style workout will build to the peak of the pyramid and then push down the other side. This circuit features ascending and descending work intervals that are designed to challenge and support peak intensity. Members who bring a friend to the workout at Riverside Markert who signs up for an OutFit membership will be awarded with an OutFit T-shirt and the friend will receive a 50% off their first month subscription. OutFit delivers large, circuit-style classes that are conveniently located in beautiful public spaces coined “training grounds.” The classes provide the perfect blend of strength, cardio, flexibility, and fun. Each class is led by an expertly trained fitness coach, named an “OutFitter in Charge,” who arrives in an on-demand fitness van equipped with TRX® training gear and a heart-pumping sound and light system. Offering a diverse roster of classes, Outfit workouts are unique with participants never repeating the same class. OutFit’s varied classes include a broad range of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts – complemented by Power Yoga Flows, and Zumba® as active recovery and low impact cardio options. OutFit’s HIIT classes employ a wide variety of TRX® functional training equipment such as Suspension Trainers®, kettlebells, strength bands & Bandits®, Power Bags, Rip Trainers®, jump ropes, agility ladders, and more. Typical classes also include a range of calisthenics, agility movements, and stretches, to challenge members appropriately at all skill levels and make exercise fun. OutFit is accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels. Perfect for someone who is results-obsessed but time-challenged, OutFit also offers private training in personal spaces and homes or any place of choice with its premium-level, concierge service. All workouts are booked through the OutFit app that can be downloaded free from the Apple Store or Google Play. OutFit Founder Randy Hetrick, a career Navy SEAL and Founder of TRX®, launched the pilot program in West Broward in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic when many of the fitness industry’s most seasoned trainers and innovators found themselves out of work and gyms closed everywhere. Hetrick brought together a seasoned team of veteran fitness industry executives to form OutFit. The workout may be booked through the OutFit Training app. The free app may be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play. Guests are encouraged to bring a water bottle, yoga mat and towel. To learn more about OutFit’s services, subscriptions, and franchise opportunities, visit www.OutFitTraining.com. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of OutFit

Saluting Hispanic Heritage month, the Alhambra Orchestra presents a lively lineup of colorful symphonic pieces by Hispanic composers or inspired by Spanish culture. Conductor Daniel Andai leads the orchestra’s performance of popular favorites “Malagueña” “Recuerdos de la Alhambra,” “Habanera,” “Toreador March,” “Capriccio Espagnol,” and the lovely “Concierto de Aranjuez” with guitar soloist Koh Kazama, a faculty member at New World School of the Arts. Bring your friends and family to this memorable event. The Alhambra Orchestra is Miami’s community orchestra, dedicated to promoting live classical performances and music education. This free event is co-presented with Miami-Dade County Auditorium as a service to our community. Details Saturday, September 24, 2022, 7:30 pm, Miami-Dade County Auditorium, 2901 W. Flagler St. Miami, FL 33135. Admission is free but tickets are required. RSVP in advance at the MDCA Box Office, Monday through Friday at 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, or at www.MiamiDadeCountyAuditorium.org. Info: call 305.547.5414 or e-mail MDCA at mdca@miamidade.gov. Free parking is available on-site. Additional info www.alhambraorchestra.org, 305-668-9260, email music@alhambraorchestra.org. Calendar Entry “Honoring Hispanic Heritage,” Saturday, Sept. 24, 7:30 pm, Miami-Dade County Auditorium. Free concert of popular favorites by Hispanic composers or inspired by Spanish culture, including the lovely Concierto de Aranjuez with guitar soloist Koh Kazama. Admission is free but tickets are required. RSVP in advance at the MDCA Box Office, Monday through Friday at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, or at www.MiamiDadeCountyAuditorium.org. Info: call 305.547.5414 or e-mail MDCA at mdca@miamidade.gov. Free parking is available on-site. Additional info at www.alhambraorchestra.org, 305-668-9260, or e-mail music@alhambraorchestra.org. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy of Alhambra Orchestra

Eat Me Guilt Free – a health-focused line of brownies, bread, tortilla wraps and cake mix – is baking up more than just brownies in the kitchen! Eat Me Guilt Free CEO and Founder Cristie Besu is elated to announce the 2022 “You Glow Girl” grant winners – Julie Griggs and Danielle Dietzek – the dynamic duo behind the mobile app, Fourplay. This is the second year for the grant, supporting Besu’s commitment to empowering female founders like herself to glow and grow, both professionally and personally. Besu is curating a female empowerment community, bringing together female entrepreneurs who will uplift one another and continually rewrite the traditional business narrative. The 2022 grant resulted in more than 1,340 glowing applicants, which was a significant increase from the 320 applicants who applied for the grant’s debut in 2021. Applicants originated from various industries including food and beverage, skincare and cosmetics, fashion, health and fitness, home goods, pet products, real estate, architecture, technology, cannabis, publishing, visual arts and even farming. The selection committee narrowed the applicant pool down to 25 semi-finalists, who were asked to submit videos introducing themselves and their businesses. Finally, the top ten participated in virtual interviews with Besu and members of the “You Glow Girl” team. After the grueling, comprehensive six-month review process, Fourplay founders Julie Griggs and Danielle Dietzek were crowned the winners! It was difficult to choose but ultimately Besu was drawn to their unique idea and the boss babes behind the brand. As single, healthcare professionals in New York City, best friends Griggs and Dietzek, are revolutionizing socializing with other singles. With little free time on their hands, they wanted to be able to go out and have fun with each other while also dipping their toes in the New York City dating scene. The answer? Fourplay – a social networking app that enables singles to team up with a friend and “match” with other pairs. It’s more exciting, less awkward and much safer way to date. Fourplay is fixing a dysfunctional dating culture that robs singles of fun and natural opportunities to find love. Young professionals love to multitask and Fourplay allows them to do just that – without the pressure and expectation of traditional dating apps. Fourplay is currently available in New York City and expanding to new cities soon with the help of the “You Glow Girl” grant. As the recipients of the grant, Griggs and Dietzek will receive $10,000 to help their business thrive and a one-year supply of Eat Me Guilt Free products to stay fueled. The winners will also receive access to a mind, body, spirit virtual suite including a monthly check-in with mental health professional Gabriela Reyes, MFT of @mindful.gee; a ClassPass subscription; and a Calm or Headspace subscription to practice mindfulness. Griggs and Dietzek will also be awarded a two-part immersive coaching and mentorship experience with Besu including a two-day retreat in Miami, FL, to Eat Me Guilt Free’s headquarters to focus on strategic planning and goal-setting as well as opportunities to meet with other experts in Besu’s network. Part two will include a visit from Besu to the Fourplay headquarters for extensive one-on-one coaching. “We are honored to name Julie Griggs and Danielle Dietzek, the vibrant founders of ‘Fourplay,’ the winners of the 2022 ‘You Glow Girl’ Grant,” said Besu. “When we started planning the 2022 iteration of the grant, we knew we wanted it to be bigger and better than ever. What we didn’t know at the time was that this notion would even apply to our winner selection. For the first time, we have not one, but two brilliant female grand prize winners.” Besu launched the “You Glow Girl” Grant in 2021 to bring to life the true purpose of empowerment, as well as to provide the guidance and resources necessary for female entrepreneurs, like herself. As a registered nurse and certified sports nutritionist-turned mompreneur who began baking Eat Me Guilt Free treats straight from her own kitchen in 2013, Besu has firsthand experience of the hardships and barriers limiting female entrepreneurs from succeeding. Besu recognized that there were many crucial points in her journey as a female entrepreneur where she could have used guidance and a financial boost. It was then that she realized she wanted to help other female entrepreneurs with the very things she needed help with. Besu and the Eat Me Guilt Free team are thrilled to continue their commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs for years to come with the “You Glow Girl” grant program. Besu has plans to expand the program in 2023 and has some exciting surprises underway. For more information, or to apply for the “You Glow Girl” grant, please visit https://www.eatmeguiltfree.com/pages/youglowgirl. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Eat Me Guilt Free

If you want to understand why some sandcastles are tall and have intricate structures while others are nearly shapeless lumps of sand, it helps to have a background in geotechnical engineering. As a geotechnical engineering educator myself, I use sandcastles in the classroom to explain how interactions of soil, water and air make it possible to rebuild landscapes after mining metals critical to the energy transition. Building a sandcastle comes down to the right mix of those three ingredients. Sand provides the structure, but it’s water between the sand grains that provides the force – in this case, suction – that holds the sand together. And without the right amount of air the water would just push the sand grains apart. Not just any sand Sand grains, according to the standards body ASTM International’s Unified Soil Classification System, are soil particles having a diameter of 0.003 inches (0.075 mm) to 0.187 inches (4.75 mm). Sands, by definition, have at least half their particles in that range. Silt or clay is soil with particles smaller than sand size. And soil with particles larger than sand size is gravel. The size of particles, or grains, also determines the way sand looks and feels. The smallest sand grains have a texture almost like powdered sugar. The largest grains are more like the size of small dry lentils. Most sand will work for building a sandcastle, but the best sand has two characteristics: grains of sand in several different sizes and grains with angular or rough edges. Variation in grain size allows smaller sand grains to fill the pockets, or pores, between the larger sand grains. The result is increased sand strength. Sand grains that are more angular, with sharp corners on them, lock together better, making the sandcastle stronger. It’s the same reason a pile of angular wooden blocks will stay in a pile, but a pile of marbles will go everywhere. This is also why, surprisingly, the best sand for sandcastles is not typically found on an island or a coastal beach. More angular grains of sand are usually found closer to mountains, their geologic source. These sand grains have not yet had their edges rounded off by wind and water. Professional sandcastle builders will go so far as to import river sand for their creations. Finally, the closer together the sand grains are, the stronger the sand will be. Pressing wet sand together tightly, by compaction or tamping, squeezes sand grains together, decreasing the size of pores and increasing the effect water can have. Compaction also increases grain interlocking and, consequently, sand strength. Building a sandcastle calls for finding the right mix of air, water and sand.Tony Garcia/Stone via Getty Images Water is key Without water, sand just forms a pile. Too much water and sand flows like liquid. But between dry sand and saturated sand lies a wide range of moisture levels that enable sandcastle construction. Water is cohesive, meaning that water likes to stick to water. But water also sticks to or climbs up certain surfaces. Look at a half-full glass of water and you will see the water going up the insides of the glass a little. Gravity still holds the water in the glass, but the water is trying to climb up and wet the surface. This tiny power struggle is what makes sandcastles possible. Right where the air and water meet, there’s surface tension. The air-water interface pulls downward, trying to hold the water together against the competing forces of surface wetting, cohesion and gravity. Surface tension pulls the water together like the taut skin of a balloon. And surface tension also pulls sand grains together. If the glass were much skinnier, like a straw, the water would rise higher and have more surface tension. The narrower the straw, the higher the water would rise. This phenomenon is called capillarity. Water behaves the same way in wet sand. The pores, or spaces, between the sand grains are like a bunch of very tiny straws. Water forms tiny bridges between the grains. The water in these bridges is under tension, pulling the grains together by a force we geotechnical engineers call suction stress. Did you know that suction is one of the forces holding this sand sculpture together? El Coleccionista de Instantes Fotografía & Video/Flickr, CC BY-SA Just enough water The quantity of water in the sand controls the size and strength of the water bridges. Too little water equals little bridges between the sand grains. More water, and the size and number of bridges grows, increasing the suction holding the sand grains together. The result is perfect sandcastle sand. Too much water, though, and the suction is too weak to hold the sand together. A general rule of thumb for building great sandcastles is one part water for every eight parts dry sand. Under ideal conditions in a laboratory, though, with dense sand and zero evaporation, one part water for every one hundred parts dry sand can produce wonders. At a beach, sand with the right moisture level is near the high tide line when the tide is low. Incidentally, salt from seawater can also be a boon for sandcastle stability. Capillary forces hold sand grains together initially, but capillary water will eventually evaporate, particularly on a windy day. When sea water dries up, salt is left behind. Since the seawater was forming bridges between the grains, the salt crystallizes at these points of contact. In this way, salt can keep a sandcastle standing long after the sand has dried. But be careful not to disturb the salt-bonded sand; it’s brittle and collapsible. To build a strong sandcastle, compact sand and a little water as tightly as you can. I prefer to create a dense mound and then scoop and carve away to reveal the art within. You can also compact the sand into buckets, cups or other molds, and build from the ground up. Just be sure to get the sand dense, and place the mold on a compacted foundation. Hands make for both a great compaction and carving tool, but a shovel or a seashell will allow for more precision. Have fun, and don’t be afraid to get sandy! The best sand for sandcastles is closer to mountain areas like Colorado than the beach. Wind and water haven’t yet rounded the ends and edges of the sand grains.Patrick Lienin/Moment via Getty Images Words By Joseph Scalia Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University. Special thanks to The Conversation for republishing permission.

Have you ever turned to music when struggling with a difficult emotion, like sadness, anxiety or anger? Most people believe that music has some therapeutic power, and that confidence is increasingly backed by empirical evidence. However, there remains little consensus on precisely how or why music has an ability to influence our emotional, physical and mental well-being. Since ancient times, physicians and philosophers have explored the power of music in human life. Although the writings of Plato and Aristotle are more famous, another ancient school of philosophy, Stoicism, cultivated an interest in music’s therapeutic potential. Given that the word “stoic” is mostly used to describe a rigid, emotionless person, Stoic musical practices would seem doomed to the boring or bizarre. But Stoicism – the capital “S” kind – is a school of thought that’s really more about managing turbulent emotions in everyday life. This casts their connection to music in a different light, and it helps explain how Stoicism positively shaped the course of intellectual and music history. Control what you can Founded in ancient Athens and peaking in popularity in first century Rome, Stoicism was developed by philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus and the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius to manage destructive emotions such as anxiety, anger and grief through exercises that shift perspective. The question of control forms the core of this method. The Stoics taught that it is only by recognizing and accepting what is beyond a person’s control that a person can exert maximal control over what is within their power. Importantly, the Stoic approach does not seek to directly suppress bad emotions but focuses instead on reshaping a person’s worldview, so that when they encounter difficulty or trauma, they will be prepared to experience emotions less destructively. This strategy of putting things in perspective may seem familiar; the founders of cognitive behavioral therapy, one of the most popular forms of psychotherapy today, directly borrowed from Stoicism. In recent years – and especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – interest in Stoicism has surged, with people from diverse political and economic backgrounds recognizing the efficacy of this ancient system to address afflictions like anxiety and addiction. In turbulent times, Neostoicism emerges So where does music fit into all of this? As a historical musicologist, I have done extensive research on musical practices inspired by the revival of Stoicism in late-16th and 17th-century France, a movement known as Neostoicism. Emerging in the wake of the violent French Wars of Religion, Neostoics looked to Stoicism as a remedy for social and political instability. They developed a vocal music repertoire to teach the principles of the system, guiding singers and listeners to “rehearse” Stoic techniques of emotional regulation through informal musical gatherings in people’s homes. Painter Carstian Luyckx depicts Neostoic reminders of the shortness of life: a skull, dying flowers and an hourglass.Wikimedia Commons These songs illustrated Stoic principles through musical “text painting,” in which specific words, actions or concepts were musically conveyed through sound – and, sometimes, visuals – in the score. Take an example from 1582 – “L’eau va viste,” a poem by Antoine de Chandieu that was set to music by Paschal de L’Estocart. L’eau va viste en s’escoulant, Plus viste le traict volant, Et plus viste encore passe Le vent qui les nues chasse. Mais de la joye mondaine La course est si tressoudaine, Qu’elle passe encor devant L’eau et le traict et le vent. Water flows quickly, Even faster the flying arrow, And faster still passes, The wind which chases the clouds, But of worldly joy, Its course is so sudden, That it passes even before, The water, the arrow, and the wind. Numerous Stoic writings, such as Seneca’s “On the Brevity of Life,” evoke similar imagery of running water to warn against placing one’s happiness in external comforts and securities, which, like a current, quickly pass. L’Estocart’s musical arrangement for “L’eau va viste” picks up on this quality of motion. A snowballing rhythm gains momentum with each new example of quick passing. The river of time Zoom ahead almost four centuries, and the English rock band Pink Floyd composed a strikingly similar musical reflection in their iconic song “Time” from their 1973 album, “Dark Side of the Moon.” The album outlines all the major forces and concerns that can drive people insane: aging, death, fear, greed and violence. Mental health held particular salience for the band. Their founding frontman, Syd Barrett, had a mental breakdown only a few years prior. According to Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, the album is about “life with a heartbeat,” and the band signals this by opening and closing the album with a slow, simulated heartbeat that sounds somehow both mechanical and profoundly human. Developing this rhythmic symbolism further, the single “Time” uses numerous musical strategies to draw attention to the fragility of human life. The track opens with a meandering two-and-a-half minute instrumental introduction, slowly building from a breathy synthesizer drone to the disorienting sound of numerous ticking clocks. Then there’s a cacophony of alarms before listeners hear a mechanical bass click that sounds like a metronome or a mechanical heartbeat. The entrance of the electric guitar and increasingly regular musical phrases finally set up the arrival of the vocals in the first verse: “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day / fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way.” This unusual extended instrumental introduction destabilizes a listener’s expectation of musical time and demands greater attention to the moment-by-moment sensations of its passing. The lyrics throughout the song reinforce this initial musical warning –that listeners must pay close attention to the flow of time and to make sure it’s used with purpose and meaning. “The time is gone. The song is over,” the lyrics conclude, “Thought I’d something more to say.” An internal store of power These two musical examples, composed nearly 400 years apart, model a core element of Stoic therapy: By meditating on the fragility of time, Stoics seek not to instill dread, but to reveal death and transience as natural aspects of the human experience that can be faced without anxiety. This calm acceptance offers a release from destructive emotions like fear and yearning that pull our attention to the future and the past. As Marcus Aurelius recommended, “Give yourself a gift – the present moment.” Stoicism and its abundant artistic echoes are easily misread as pessimistic because of this relentless focus on human mortality and fragility. This negative reading misses Stoicism’s profoundly optimistic and empowering message, which is that our mental freedom remains in our control, regardless of our external circumstances. Waters highlighted exactly this point in his defense of the humanism of “Dark Side of the Moon,” explaining that “Despite the rather depressing ending … there is an allowance that all things are possible, that the potential is in our hands.” Music, from this perspective, offers a way to learn about the therapeutic method of the Stoics in a way that goes beyond the contemplation of philosophical lyrics. These examples – and many others in the Stoic tradition that so thoughtfully unite words and sounds – transform helpful Stoic advice into a therapeutic practice guided through the twists and turns of song. Words By Melinda Latour Assistant Professor of Musicology, Tufts University. Special thanks to The Conversation for republishing permission.

Anatomy – Miami’s premier health and wellness brand – is expected to debut its fifth Miami location at CityPlace Doral, this winter. Influenced by sports performance and the science of strength conditioning, Anatomy provides members and guests a life-enriching community where they can sweat, enhance and recover together. To gear up for the anticipated Doral opening, Anatomy will host free weekly group fitness classes at CityPlace Doral’s Fountain Plaza, every Tuesday (HIIT Boxing) and Saturday (Yoga), beginning this week. Free and open to the public, each class is catered to provide participants with an experiential first look into Anatomy’s signature offerings, before the official unveiling of its newest Doral location. HIIT Boxing | Offered weekly on Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Anatomy’s group HIIT Boxing class will feature a combination of cardio boxing and functional movements to test the body to the max. The full-body challenge will have participants punching off those pounds, leaving them feeling nothing less than a knockout. Yoga | Anatomy’s invigorating group Yoga class, offered Saturdays at 11 a.m., will combine flow through poses and movement linked through breath, for a complete workout for the mind, body, and soul. The classes will begin on Tuesday, Aug 16 and will continue until Tuesday, Dec. 20. The CityPlace Doral location will offer many of the services that Anatomy has become known for such as its dynamic personal training system, performed by expertly trained Body Architects, designed to help members achieve a top level of fitness and a vast offering of indoor and outdoor group fitness classes. Anatomy will complement CityPlace Doral’s premium beauty and wellness offerings including Venetian Nail Spa, Semper Laser, Tipsy Salon Bar and 4Ever Young. The Anatomy membership office is now open at CityPlace Doral and offering limited founding memberships. To RSVP for Anatomy’s group fitness classes or to sign up for limited founding memberships, please e-mail Doral@AnatomyFitness.com or call 786.575.0913. For more information, please visit https://cityplacedoral.com/ By ML Staff. Image courtesy of CityPlace Doral