Poliform presents the new 2022 collection. Systems, furnishings, and accessories that stand out for their essential quality and elegance: a style that becomes a lifestyle, growing out of the product into the very experience of living. Lexington System Lexington is a pillar-based bedroom system available in two configurations: wall or ceiling, in the latter case with the possibility of designing double-sided compositions, finished on both sides. Shelves, drawers, and a wide range of equipment – the same as the Senzafine system – are hooked into the uprights with a champagne or grey slate painted finish. Also available in a day version, thanks to its infinite flexibility in terms of dimensions, applications, and finishes, Lexington marks an evolution in the world of systems, with a view to total integration across the different rooms of the house. The Lexington system has strong architectural connotations. Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud in collaboration with Poliform’s R&D department, it consists of an upright system onto which shelves, drawers, and other components can be fitted to create wardrobe systems for the night area and bookshelves for the day area. Symphony Sideboard Symphony is a collection of sideboards where the simplicity of the lines is expressed through fine materials and accurate workmanship. The sideboards have an elliptical shape, enhanced by the wood finish. The collection includes elements of different heights and sizes, from the high and medium versions with doors to the low version with drawers or with drawer and open compartments, all on a base with feet. Drop Mirror Elegant and precious, Drop is a generously sized round mirror. It features a leather frame that incorporates the strap used to hang it on the wall. CONNECT WITH POLIFORM info@poliformusa.com poliform.com Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Pinterest Poliform Miami showroom address and phone number: Poliform Miami 4100 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 101 - 102 Miami, FL 33137 (305) 573-9950 By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Poliform

Poliform is delighted to announce its Poliform Miami store reopening, after a renovation planned to showcase a redesigned floorplan, to celebrate its 20th anniversary in the Miami Design District and offer an even more fulfilling experience to its customers and interior designers. The store has introduced a series of products belonging to its 2021 collection, with a focus on living and wall systems. Poliform’s vision of contemporary lifestyle displays the iconic timeless elegance through its newest furniture and systems, bringing together design, quality and innovation. Starting from April 1st, the Miami location will feature the Saint Germain sofa, Le Club armchair, Koishi and Orbit coffee table. Saint-Germain Saint-Germain is a sofa system with sinuous and sensual shapes, capable of transforming any space into a warm and intimate landscape, infusing a pleasant feeling of domestic comfort. Soft and enveloping lines are present in all the elements of the collection, which includes diverse modules that allow creating linear, angular or unconventional compositions, characterized by an interplay of volumes and depths with welcoming appeal. From the haute couture materiality of bouclé fabrics to the contemporary elegance of hide, the finishing enhances the voluptuous volumes of Saint-Germain, making it aesthetically versatile. Le Club Le Club is the new armchair designed by Jean-Marie Massaud, inspired by the archetypal leather-bound club chairs of the early 20th Century and reinterpreted with a minimalist form and a contemporary approach. Le Club armchair lightens shapes and materials in the name of a casual sophistication that sets a new standard for both comfort and style. Koishi The Koishi coffee tables, which complement the Saint-Germain sofa, are inspired by smooth lines and organic shapes. Jean-Marie Massaud developed these two projects together as the ideal addition to a modern living area conceived as a home landscape. The name itself, Koishi, which in Japanese means "pebble", alludes to a naturalness expressed not only in organic shapes but also in the choice of materials like metal, marble, stone and wood. Orbit Orbit is a coffee table made entirely of glass whose simplicity hides a laborious and complex manufacturing process. Visually light and minimal, yet with a sculptural look that connects it with any environment, from the most classic to the most contemporary. Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud, who describes it as a perfectly balanced style feature, the Orbit coffee table makes any Poliform interior a unique and personal space. Available in two heights and with a bronze glass finish, Orbit is visibly light and minimalist despite its sculptural style. This characteristic makes it well-suited to any room, from classic settings to more contemporary ones. The iconic Poliform cabinetry showcases Shape kitchen and Code wall system. Shape Shape is the new kitchen designed by Poliform. An ultra-contemporary project that combines the practicality of doors with handle with the essential aesthetic of those without. In the base cabinets, the built-in integrated handle can be positioned either in the center of the doors or in the laterals, while in the columns it adopts the form of a molding that runs through all the height. Shape is completed with elements and accessories, like the floating and fully equipped worktop supported by Minus legs, the new Infinity hood system and the Moon snack table with revolving top. CODE Code is a versatile system that offers unprecedented freedom of design. Conceived for the contemporary living room, it also extends to the night area, where boiserie, suspended containers and shelves are reinterpreted as standalone elements or in combination with wardrobes and walk-in closets. Code is completed by a collection of sideboards to be freely configured (choosing between open compartments, showcases, drawers, hinged or flap doors). Its versatility is also expressed through the variety of finishes and customizable components. Located at 4100 NE, 2nd Avenue #101-102, in the heart of Miami Design District, Poliform Miami welcomes clients to discover the Poliform functional and aesthetic possibilities within each interior category, for any space requirement, offering the highest quality of its “Made in Italy” products. MORE ON POLIFORM Poliform is the Italian cabinetry, furniture and interior design firm, located near Lake Como, that since the ‘70s produces hand-crafted, high-end products where unparalleled quality meets the attention to details, to create an iconic and stylish collection. Poliform provides systems and furnishing for any interior space including walk-in closets, closets, kitchens, tables, chairs, armchairs, sofas and beds. CONNECT WITH POLIFORM info@poliformusa.com poliform.com Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Pinterest By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Poliform

The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the next date of the Garden After Dark live music series. The Garden’s lush grounds provide the perfect setting for these intimate, outdoor shows featuring a slate of musical performances. Negroni’s Trio with Rose Max & Ramatis Moraes Friday • April 29 • 7pm doors/8pm show Location: Great Lawn (Rain location Banyan Terrace) Cost: $35 non-members, $25 members • Tickets: mbgarden.org/events Garden After Dark brings together two Latin Grammy® nominated forces to celebrate the music of an icon: Antonio Carlos Jobim. The accomplished Latin jazz group, Negroni’s Trio, performs with the award-winning duo Rose Max & Ramatis Moraes for a special night of Brazilian classics on the Great Lawn All concerts are held on the grounds of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, located at 2000 Convention Center Drive on Miami Beach and tickets may be purchased by visiting: mbgarden.org. The Garden’s Botanical Bar will be serving light bites and cocktails -- no outside food or beverages permitted. The Garden welcomes blankets on the lawn. Series sponsors include: City of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, and State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Garden After Dark series is curated by producer Gene De Souza. About the Garden The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a 3-acre subtropical garden and event space, featuring a wetland with red mangrove and pond apple trees, an expansive water garden with a cascading Oolite fountain, and diverse collections of flowering trees, palms, cycads, orchids, and Florida native species. The mission of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden is to promote environmental enjoyment, stewardship and sustainability through education, the arts, and interaction with the natural world. The Garden is a unique oasis of beauty and tranquility within an urban setting – a community resource that refreshes, inspires and engages our visitors. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Miami Beach Botanical Garden

Luxury, redefined. The new Fendi Casa collection marks the start of a prestigious partnership with Design Holding – the world’s leading high-quality design group. For more info, visit www.fendi.com/us-en/inside-fendi/fendi-casa By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Fendi Casa

Continuum, South Florida’s premier resort-style oceanfront condominium residences in Miami Beach, has formed a unique alliance with one of the region’s premium yacht charter organizations, delivering a white glove luxury yachting experience for residents in South Florida. Residents of the luxury oceanfront community are now able to book their own exclusive yacht charter with friends and family through a unique membership program The Continuum has partnered with Residence Yacht Club, a members-only luxury yacht charter company, designed to offer a five-star sailing experience to luxury condominium properties and their residents. As a founding member of the private program, the Continuum Homeowners Association is now able to offer its residents a recommended luxury charter experience for couples, families and large groups, with access to a privately owned fleet of premium yachts based in Miami Beach. Unlike many yacht charter companies that invite outside owners to join its vast inventory, Residence Yacht Club owns and/or manages its exclusive fleet of yachts, enabling every vessel and its crew to be coordinated with the highest precision and with utmost quality control. A smaller pool of premium yachts, owned and operated by the company’s management team, guarantees the overall experience – from booking to disembarkment – is meticulous to meet the needs of an affluent and discerning clientele. Residence Yacht Club offers charters for a single day in South Florida, up to multiple month-long excursions and trips throughout the Caribbean. Every Captain, team of stewardesses and crew are handpicked with a best-in-class industry reputation and experience that provides residents with a premium and customized charter experience, based on the crew’s familiarity with the clientele’s needs, background and history on the water. A property’s concierge is able to search an inventory of featured yachts online and offer residents a tailor-made voyage: from a late-night dinner party with five-star catering or private chef, to a day of family fun with water toys and jet skis. Every charter is commissioned to make the group feel as if they own their own yacht and comes with complimentary wine or champagne, fresh fruit platter, as well as bespoke towels, cushions and onboard accessories that can be branded by the property. All-inclusive charters include the cost of fuel, service fees and the option of “VIP Sprinter” transportation to collect and drop-off residents at home or a desired location prior to and following the charter. “We’re delighted to form a founding membership and unique alliance with Residence Yacht Club,” says Rishi Idnani, Managing Director at Continuum. “Until now, residents have had to make their own arrangements to enjoy our beautiful waters. The attraction for our Homeowners Association was how Residence Yacht Club is able to ‘white label’ a yacht charter experience, as if the Continuum has its own fleet. The exclusivity of the membership and seamless booking platform for our concierge team, ensures that our residents receive an authentic luxury charter experience, with an intimacy that very few premium and often larger charter companies can guarantee. We like the personal touch that Residence Yacht Club pledges.” Residence Yacht Club was founded by Miami Beach native Eric Levin, a seasoned entrepreneur and business owner known throughout the South Florida region for his vast experience in the technology, entertainment and hospitality industries. Eric’s unique business model developed for Residence Yacht Club is based upon a corporate membership program for high-end luxury condominium properties and their respective heads of the Homeowners Association. Property concierges are able to take advantage of the HOA membership through access to the fleet and inventory offered by Residence Yacht Club for residents. In addition to the Continuum as its founding member, Residence Yacht Club also has Faena, 1 Hotel and Residences and Fisher Island among its marquee clientele. Residence Yacht Club offers an inventory of yachts ranging in size from 55 feet to 120 feet, starting at $3,000 for a 4-hour excursion. For further information on Residence Yacht Club, visit residenceyachtclub.com. For further information on the Continuum, visit ContinuumSB.com. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Residence Yacht Club

Wearing his military uniform, Jackie Robinson signs a contract on Oct. 23, 1945 to becomes the first Black to play with a white professional baseball team. Image courtesy The Conversation/Bettmann/Getty Images On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson played his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers, forever changing baseball and society. Robinson was Black, and the integration of all-white major league baseball was perhaps the most important story about civil rights in the years immediately following World War II. The integration, Jules Tygiel wrote in his groundbreaking book “Baseball’s Great Experiment,” “captured the imagination of millions of Americans who had previously ignored the nation’s racial dilemma.” As Martin Luther King Jr. famously put it, Robinson “was a sit-inner before sit-ins, a freedom rider before freedom rides.” Major League Baseball celebrates the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s historic career on April 15, 2022, in stadiums and ballparks across the nation. But in my view, those celebrations will fall short if they don’t address how Robinson confronted white supremacy with class and dignity during a time before he joined the Dodgers, when his own minor league manager once asked, “Do you really think a nigra is a human being?” I’ve written or edited four books about Jackie Robinson. When I give a lecture or a talk about him, I often mention that he was a Republican. Given the modern-day opposition that the Republican Party has toward civil and voting rights protections – and the teaching of racism in American history – this invariably provokes an audible gasp from the audience. Republican roots Robinson, who lived from 1919 to 1972, was a Republican when millions of other Blacks were Republicans. Back in those days, the GOP still hung on to its mantra that it was “the party of Abraham Lincoln,” the president who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious Southern states that had seceded from the Union “are, and henceforward shall be free.” Robinson’s parents gave him the middle name Roosevelt in honor of Republican President Teddy Roosevelt, “who expressed disdain about racism,” Arnold Rampersad wrote in his Robinson biography, “before white supremacist power made Roosevelt retreat into conservatism.” Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey chats with Jackie Robinson on March 17, 1949. Image courtesy The Conversation/Curt Gunther/Keystone/Archive Photos/Getty Images Branch Rickey, the white Dodgers executive who signed Robinson to a contract and became his mentor, was an ardent Republican who believed in racial equality. Robinson supported and then worked for civil rights advocate New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. “If we had one or two governors in the Deep South like Nelson Rockefeller,” King said, “many of our problems could be readily solved.” Robinson endorsed Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate for president, in 1960. Nixon, who, like Robinson, was from southern California, convinced Robinson, a former UCLA athlete, that he would support civil rights. In this Oct. 4, 1960 photograph, baseball legend Jackie Robinson stands with then-Vice President Richard M. Nixon (right) during a campaign stop in New Jersey. Image courtesy The Conversation/Bettmann/GettyImages Robinson found Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, Nixon’s opponent, “insincere” in his tepid support for civil rights. Kennedy won the presidential election that year. The white man’s party In 1964, U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona challenged Rockefeller and other more liberal Republicans for control of what the right wing called “the white man’s party.” He won the party’s presidential nomination. Though Goldwater lost the presidential election in a landslide to Democratic President Lyndon Baines Johnson, he won the hearts and minds of pro-segregation Democrats, the mostly Southern politicians and their followers who had abandoned the Democratic Party when it endorsed legislation during the late ‘50s and '60s to advance civil rights and voting rights for Blacks. In this July 1948 photograph, segregationist South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond is seen gesturing to implore his colleagues to oppose civil rights legislation. Image courtesy The Conversation/Bettmann/GettyImages Those who switched parties included U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who ran for president in 1948 as a segregationist and later filibustered for more than 24 hours to prevent passage of the 1957 Civil Rights Act. Goldwater, Nixon and others in the GOP used what they called the “Southern strategy” to leverage the grievances and fears of Southern whites over the Democrats’ groundbreaking proposal that Blacks should have equal rights. Jackie Robinson steps up to bat with his back to the camera during a game at a packed stadium on Aug. 28, 1949. Image courtesy The Conversation/Hulton Archive/Getty Images By 1968, Robinson was done with the GOP. He refused to support Nixon when he ran for president again in 1968. He also became more active in the civil rights movement and appeared with King on frequent occasions. Robinson also became a prolific writer, including a column for the Amsterdam News, a weekly Black newspaper, where he further developed his fierce opposition to the Republican Party. “I suspect that unless the party showed a desire to win our votes,” he wrote in a letter 1968 to Clarence Lee Towns Jr., the leading Black member of the Republican National Committee, “it may rest assured that I and my friends cannot and will not support a conservative.” Instead, Robinson supported Nixon’s Democratic rival, Hubert Humphrey. “I have my right to remember that I am Black and American before I am Republican,” Robinson wrote in the Amsterdam News. “As such, I will never vote for Mr. Nixon.” When Nixon won the election, Robinson demonstrated the determination he showed throughout his life. In one of his last letters to the Nixon White House, Robinson pleaded with special assistant Roland L. Elliott to listen to Black America before racial tensions got out of control. “Black America has asked so little,” Robinson wrote, “but if you can’t see the anger that comes from rejection, you are treading a dangerous course. We older blacks, unfortunately were willing to wait. Today’s young blacks are ready to explode.” On Nov. 24, 1972, Robinson died of a heart attack at age 53. Twenty-five years later, Major League Baseball honored him by retiring his number, 42, meaning the number can no longer be worn by any player in the league. No other baseball player has been given such an honor. By Chris Lamb Professor of Journalism, IUPUI. Images courtesy of The Conversation.com.

In 2015, celebrated Colombian Chef and Entrepreneur Juan Manuel Barrientos, opened his first ever U.S. location of his original Colombia-based Elcielo restaurants in Medellín and Bogotá. In 2020, he made the leap to the Union Market District of Washington D.C., and from there, he was immediately awarded his first coveted Michelin star, which was also the first Michelin Star in history for a Colombian restaurant. Combining a variety of sensory experiences with one-of-a-kind flavors and textures, Barrientos, affectionately known as ‘Juanma’, has revolutionized traditional Colombian cuisine by combining his avant- garde cooking techniques with his passion for neurosciences. Having trained under world-renowned chefs including Spain’s Juan Mari Arzak, Barrientos combines classical training with modern techniques, resulting in a dining experience that is in a league of its own in Miami. Located at 31 SE 5th Street, Elcielo overlooks the Miami River at the confluence of downtown Miami and Brickell, creating a one-of-a-kind dining atmosphere. A stunning open kitchen greets diners as they enter Elcielo (translated from Spanish as ‘Heaven’); offering a chance to see an international team creating Barrientos’ unique vision. Passing through to the main dining room, a fully stocked wine cellar complements the illuminated bar, from which signature cocktails are created to accompany each menu. Helmed by the restaurant’s Executive Chef Carlos Flores, Elcielo’s menu changes every season with innovative new dishes that are a tribute to Colombian cuisine. Chef Barrientos and the restaurant’s expert hospitality team strives to create a distinct and carefully crafted journey that taps into all five of your senses. The food and ambiance will transport you to the beautiful beaches of Cartagena and the mysterious corners of the Amazon jungle. THE EXPERIENCE, a 21-course artful menu boasts surprising sensory moments throughout the course of the night. It is priced at $197 per person, and is served in the restaurant’s great hall section. The bar also features many of its signature and innovative Colombian cocktails. Guests looking for a shortened version of The Experience, can opt for THE JOURNEY, a 13-course tasting menu, priced at $157 per person. The restaurant also offers an exclusive wine pairing menu to complement the meal, for $105 for six glasses or $58 for four glasses, per person. Although there is not an a la carte dinner menu available, guests can order a wide variety of cocktails and top shelf liquors off of the beverage menu. Combining equal parts theater and technical cooking, either menu offers a culinary journey unlike any other in the Magic City. Patrons should expect whimsical experiences like Elcielo’s Chocotherapy where you wash your hands with chocolate and enjoy it through all five senses, the Compresso, an osmotized watermelon with tequila and lime scents, which represents the fruits usually found around the streets of Colombia, , and signature dishes like The Tree of Life, a Yucca bread served fresh from the oven on a wire bonsai tree representing the lung of the world, the Amazon rainforest, and the Yuca Gnocchi, an Italian technique where the chef adapts the Latin American products such as yucca and plantain, and merges the gastronomic jewels such as truffle, truffle oil and a pecorino cheese foam. Designed by Barrientos and his family, the intimate 45-seat dining room combines elements that represent the Colombian soul – the same essence present in the Elcielo restaurants of Washington DC, Bogotá and Medellín – along with tropical elements of coastal Miami. Bathed in a variety of textures, the dining room features handmade furniture crafted from imported Colombian wood and leather, as well as decor that recalls the various travels through which Barrientos has honed his craft. You can preview all high-resolution images of the restaurant, menu items, headshots of the executive team, and others, HERE. For reservations, please book via Opentable, or call (305) 874-7867. You can also visit Elcielo’s website here: https://elcielorestaurant.com/en/home-english/. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Elcielo Miami

ACS Laboratory, the largest hemp and cannabis testing facility in the eastern U.S., has created a certificate of authenticity (COA) verification process in partnership with Blockticity (https://blockticity.io/), the leader in guaranteed certificates of authenticity. The platform allows any cannabis or hemp COA authenticated by Blockticity to be available for anyone to review for themselves in the blockchain. This is ACS Laboratory’s second phase of partnership with Blockticity, and the first COA version of its type, as there is currently no physical track and trace requirement for hemp derived products. In November 2021, ACS Laboratory began its partnership with Blockticity, in combination with 3Chi, to launch the first national hemp client COA as a non-fungible token (NFT). Now, Blockticity has created an automated solution for the ACS Laboratory COA verification process for any inquires coming from: Consumers and patients Companies purchasing raw materials looking to fact-check the lab results Law enforcement Media inquiries “This platform allows anyone viewing a COA to verify that COA’s origin (the reporting lab), and confirm if the data points have been altered in any way,” said Roger Brown, president of ACS Laboratory. “At ACS Laboratory, we are pleased to once again partner with Blockticity and offer this cutting-edge technology to protect the rights of our clients.” The most commonly altered data points on a COA include and are not limited to: Disabling the QR Code Changing the image of the product tested Changing the date of the test Changing the weight of the tested materials Changing the potency results of the cannabinoids Changing the results for residual solvents and heavy metals By minting a COA into the blockchain coming directly from the lab or record, Blockticity authenticates the report from its truth source, the lab. When companies look up a COA, they can use the QR code to find that report owned by that company who paid the lab to perform the test. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of COA

American Academy, a program within American Heritage Schools, is pleased to host “Mindfulness and Your Child,” a virtual event via Zoom on Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. This event is part of American Academy’s monthly program, “Experts in Learning Differences” speaker series. Hosted by Alexandra Rollins, admissions director of the American Academy Program, the expert speaker for the May event is Piero Falci, an author and educator of mindfulness meditation and mindful living. Mindfulness is a word that means different things to different people. During this event, Falci will explain why it is important to help children practice mindfulness meditation and prepare them to live more mindfully. He equates mindfulness to a sport in which mindfulness meditation is the practice, and mindful living is the game. While practice is important, what one does in practice is of less consequence than their performance during the game. Viewers will truly be inspired by Falci’s wisdom and learn valuable strategies for children to embrace life and become better human beings. “There is a lot of violence and insanity in the world, and I am convinced that mindfulness is an antidote to that. I am devoted to helping individuals have insights that may expand their selflessness and compassion and lead to the growth of kindness and care for all sentient beings and the natural environment,” said Falci. ​​Falci is an educator of mindfulness meditation and mindful living and several well-established programs, such as the acclaimed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. He received his training from the teachers at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and his MBSR Teacher Certification at the Mindfulness Center at Brown University School of Public Health. He also teaches the Mind-Body Skills Group (MBSG) Program developed by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, as well as the Mindfulness in Schools Project’s .b (DOT-BE) curriculum for teenagers. He has written several books and offers a variety of mindfulness courses on how to apply mindfulness for the improvement of life. The speaker series is streamed live virtually, as well as available for viewing following each event. The purpose of the speaker series is to educate families about topics that relate to mild learning differences and are relevant today. All of the speakers are experts in the various disciplines of each topic. The American Academy’s goal is to provide families with a safe space to ask questions and strengthen their knowledge about how to ensure the success of their child. For more information about the speaker series, please visit: https://www.ah-americanacademy.com/speaker-series To reserve a spot, please visit: https://ahschool.info/MaySpeakerSeries Limited spots are available for this free, online, and live event. The event will take place on May 19 at 7 p.m. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of American Academy

South Florida’s luxury catering and events company, Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production (BHCEP), has been accepted into Leading Caterers of America (LCA), a select group of the most successful caterers in the U.S. and Canada. Widely recognized as one of the largest catering brands in South Florida, Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production typically caters over 800 events a year, with 40 full-time and more than 200 on-call employees. “Bill is a highly seasoned and experienced industry veteran who will bring immeasurable knowledge to our organization,“ said Carl Sacks, LCA Executive Director. “He has catered events for everyone from Pope John Paul II to the Bush family, the Reagan family, Michael Jordan, Usher, Kim Kardashian and many other high-profile clients.” Through recent acquisitions of several catering brands, BHCEP has expanded across the board in South Florida. In October of 2021, Bill Hansen partnered with Chef Aaron Dreilinger, a South Florida based gourmet caterer who specializes in Kosher-style and Jewish events, to create a new division: Mitzvahs & More. Both Hansen and Dreilinger work together to provide high-quality service and luxury catering for the Jewish events market in South Florida. “We are in the business of selling experiences, not just food and beverage,” explained Hansen. Along with Dreilinger, Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production launched a new brand, Luxury Residential Services, which operates exclusive dining experiences for some of South Florida’s most luxurious residential buildings. Luxury Residential Services currently manages the members-only restaurant Alluva at its two locations in Park Grove Condominium of Coconut Grove in Miami, and the recently-opened L’Hermitage, a five-star condominium tower in Fort Lauderdale. BHCEP merged with Eten Catering, a full-service catering and event company to expand the brand's presence to an even larger market, specifically on large scale yachts in South Florida. Bill Hansen Catering also acquired Alexander Event Catering and Different Look, two leading brands that have served South Florida’s wedding and special events market for more than 15 years. The two brands receive expertise, guidance, and support from Bill Hansen and his team. The partnership brings a new standard of luxury to South Florida events as a whole. The company is the exclusive caterer for Villa Woodbine, a historic and award-winning, early 20th century Mediterranean Revival estate in Coconut Grove. BHCEP also caters to a collection of 100 unique venues from the Palm Beaches to the Florida Keys. In addition to being an in-demand speaker at catering conferences, Bill has taught Catering Management at Florida International University since 1990. His textbook Off-Premise Catering Management remains a standard text in many hospitality classrooms. Corporate executive Chef Dewey LoSasso brings over 30 years of culinary experience as he has served as Donatella Versace’s personal chef and has delighted patrons of several of Miami’s leading restaurants, including The Forge Restaurant, The Private Foundlings Club and Tuscan Steak, as well as The Hudson Hotel In NYC. He has made appearances on the Food Network’s Chopped, South Florida Today Show, “Chefs Challenge” TV Segment with CBS, which garnered a Florida Emmy Award. Founded in 2007, Leading Caterers of America is an invitation only caterers’ consortium with members that are the leaders in their respective markets and the trendsetters in the industry. An affiliate of Catersource, the leading educational resource for the catering and events industry, LCA has risen to the top of their markets by consistently delivering superior results through creativity and best business practices. To become a member of Leading Caterers of America, caterers must pass a rigorous evaluation and peer review of their quality standards, creativity, focus on service, and client feedback. The LCA currently has 65 members throughout the US and Canada and generates over half a billion dollars annually in catering revenue. Many of the largest independent caterers in North America are LCA members. Clients of the individual LCA members benefit from access to these top caterers. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Leading Caterers of America

Louis Vuitton has unveiled its LV Driver moccasins. Created by Virgil Abloh and a part of his Pre-Fall/Winter 2022 Collection silhouette, this male wardrobe essential has been refreshed for Louis Vuitton. Available in two versions, the aptly-named LV Driver is the most contemporary driving moccasin yet. The LV Driver shoes are available in 7 different colors palette and a mix of various materials such as: Monogram grained calfskin and bright colored soles in white, orange, green, Ébène or Éclipse; and a second design in suede that is embossed with the Monogram, in either navy blue or mocha. As the very first driving moccasin by Virgil Abloh, the LV Driver is the perfect embodiment of Louis Vuitton’s savoir-faire. On each pair, no less than one hour is required for the stitching of the vamps, done entirely by hand. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Louis Vuitton Unveils LV Driver

Whether standing at the starting line for a high school cross-country competition or, years later, at the cold rainy 2018 Boston Marathon, I have always been nervous before races. In November 2021, I was again at the starting line, this time at the Monumental Marathon in Indianapolis. And while I’ve always prepared for a race, this time I did it differently. Long-distance running requires planning, from pacing to stoking the body’s engines. Images courtesy of Conversation/Nick Morgan, Author provided I’d spent the previous three years doing scientific research as part of my doctoral program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, showing, mathematically, how to use nutrition and training to run an optimal race. While there is significant research on pacing, training and eating, there has been little research done at the intersection of math and running. The research that has been done focuses mainly on shorter races, like the 800-meter, instead of longer distances, and none of it focuses on the practice of eating while running. I wanted to find out how a marathon runner could maximize energy output to run the fastest possible race. My colleagues Suzanne Lenhart, Guoxun Chen and William Hager and I combined mathematics with research from the worlds of nutrition and sports science to identify how a runner’s speed should change throughout a race – and how much and when to eat during the run. Marathon performance The marathon emerged from an ancient Greek legend of Pheidippides, a messenger who ran 40 kilometers from Marathon to Athens in 490 B.C. to bring news about a Persian invasion – or possibly, to announce the Athenians’ victory. More than 2,000 years later, in 1896, the first modern Olympics included a marathon. The next year, the first Boston Marathon was held. The race, likely the most famous of more than 1,100 marathons organized in the U.S. each year, will mark its 126th anniversary on April 18. Completing a 26.2-mile marathon requires both training and strategy. Pacing is key: A runner who takes off at a sprint can’t expect to maintain that speed. In the 1920s, runners first realized the need to stoke energy during long-distance runs and began sucking on hard candies during races. Today, a lucrative industry sells energy gels, gummies, sports drinks and other in-race nutritional products. That’s because running is an energy game, fueled by stored fat and glycogen. During high exertion, the body burns mainly glycogen, a complex carbohydrate structure used to store energy in the muscles and liver. That’s where nutrition planning comes in. The body has plenty of stored fat, but a limited supply of glycogen, enough to run maybe 15 miles. Eating carbohydrate-loaded meals leading up to a race builds glycogen stores. But high-speed or long-distance running can exhaust available glycogen, triggering a miserable and well-known experience known as “bonking” or “hitting the wall.” When the body runs out of sugar to burn, muscles cramp up and, in extreme cases, a runner may experience dizziness or confusion, or may even collapse. The antidote: consuming simple sugar during a race. Modeling racing biology To show scientifically how to run the fastest possible race, my colleagues and I built a computer model. It relies on various personal parameters such as a runner’s weight and ability to absorb oxygen, which is calculated by most sports watches. Other factors include the rate at which a runner burns calories and how quickly the body clears lactate, a compound that makes the muscles feel heavy when it accumulates. We incorporated equations for speed; changes in available energy from fat and glycogen; and the energy boost from food consumed during the race. Then we programmed in our goal: determining how a simulated marathoner can run the most efficient 26.2-mile race. We evaluated various combinations of speed and available energy alongside fuel intake, ranging from 100 to 1,100 calories. Overall, our model shows that maintaining a fairly constant speed from start to finish helps a runner achieve top performance. The results differ significantly from person to person. The model reveals an individual’s best speed and calculates the amount of calories they should take in, based on personal needs, and when to consume them. The model also generates graphs to visually depict results. All can be improved with dedicated training, making a runner more energy efficient. Optimizing performance Legendary marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya made world history with his 2019 run in Austria. Since this model is based on biological phenomena, not data, we needed to validate the approach. So we compared a simulation of Eliud Kipchoge’s 2019 world record-breaking marathon against his actual performance. Kipchoge, the first to ever complete a marathon in under two hours – 1:59:40 – gave an amazing physical performance that was optimized by a team of experts. To compare our simulation with his actual race, we put in his personal parameters alongside the 800 calories he consumed. Our model proved extremely accurate: The simulation differed from Kipchoge’s performance by just one second per mile. I then used myself to test our model on a runner with a different skill level. I stood on the starting line of the Indianapolis Marathon, prepared to use the model’s pacing strategy and in-race nutrition plan to consume five 100-calorie gels. I finished in 2:37:14, a major personal best for me, more than 15 minutes faster than I’d ever run. The simulation again proved strong: It differed from my true race time by less than 1%. The ultimate goal of this work is to create a user-friendly application that allows runners to plan in-race nutrition and calculate their best speed, both of which are crucial to running the optimal marathon. [Get fascinating science, health and technology news. Sign up for The Conversation’s weekly science newsletter.] By Cameron Cook PhD graduate, researcher, University of Tennessee. Images courtesy of The Conversation