Classic Harbor Line is waiting to take you on relaxing cruises up the Hudson
Being a city dweller, we may not always find the time or have the opportunity to get out of the city, breathe the fresh crisp air, and take in the stunning fall colors.
If you are like us when we think about packing a day bag, renting a car, or taking a train, car service, and figuring out where to go to see the best view for fall foliage, by the time we get through all the planning conversation, were already exhausted.
What if I were to told you that you can take a quick cab to Chelsea Piers, from anywhere in the city it’s about 10 minutes, walk just a few steps to find the most luxurious yachts awaiting you, quickly whisking you away for a 2.5-hour yacht cruise up the Hudson River?
Yacht Manhattan
Sail up the Hudson River to the Grand Palisades
Well then, I’m telling you to pack a small bag with just your camera and a snack, as Classic Harbor Line is waiting to take you on relaxing cruises. Sail up the Hudson River to the Grand Palisades, where you and your guests will see sites such as:
The beautiful Upper West Side of Manhattan
The majestic George Washington Bridge & the Little Red Lighthouse
The Riverside Cathedral, Grant’s Tomb & the Cloisters
Hudson River Valley up to within view of Tappan Zee Bridge
Palisades Park – one of New York’s most dramatic geological features riverside features
Yacht Kingston
Classic Harbor Line’s Grand Palisades Fall Foliage Cruises
Motor up the Hudson River on Friday-Sunday only, until November 15. This 2.25-hour excursion is offered on Fridays with a 2:00 pm departure, and on Saturdays and Sundays with departures at 10:00 am, 10:15 am, and 1:00 pm on either Manhattan or Manhattan II.
$104/Adult when purchasing 2 or 3 tickets; $88/Adult when purchasing 4 or more tickets. Indoor climate-controlled assigned seating and outdoor seating available (Merv-rated Hepa filters installed for indoor air circulation). Hot beverages like homemade cocoa, tea, coffee, as well as fall-themed cocktails like the New York Apple with made-in-New York components of apple whiskey, apple cider, and sparkling wine are available, first-round complimentary.”
Schooner Sails travel up the Hudson River on Saturday and Sunday only until November 8. This 3.5-hour excursion has departures at 11:00 am on schooner Adirondack, their 80-foot sailboat and at 11:15 am on schooner America 2.0, their 105-foot sailboat. $88 per adult, $64 per child (Please no children under 3). Complimentary beverages included; warm coats, winter accessories, and lap blankets encouraged.
A cutting-edge megayacht manufacturing group is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year by installing a 60 foot long yacht in the heart of Times Square. Designed by Stefano Righini and Francesco Guida for Azimut Yachts, the Azimut S6 model reflects the company’s strong commitment toward disruptive design and technological innovation in the yachting industry.
Downtown: Tell us about Azimut Yachts! What do you do and offer?
Giovanna Vitelli, VP of Azimut Benetti Group:Azimut Benetti Group is the world’s leading builder of motor yachts. Established in 1969 by my father, Paolo Vitelli, the Group is present in 70 countries, bringing together the successful brands Azimut Yachts and Benetti Yachts, each of which serves a different market segment. The Group offers a huge range of motor yachts, with more than 45 models in production, from the smallest Sport Cruiser in the Azimut Atlantis Collection at 34 feet to Benetti’s superyachts spanning more than 328 feet.
Downtown: A
little birdie told us about a mega-installation you are planning in the heart
of Times Square. What can visitors expect to see and through what dates?
GV: Visitors can expect to see an award-winning Azimut yacht on display in the Times Square Plaza from May 13-22, 2019. The event is in partnership with Design Pavilion during NYCxDESIGN, the city’s annual public celebration of design. For our 50th Anniversary celebration, Azimut Benetti Group partnered with Design Pavilion to emphasize the company’s strong commitment toward disruptive design and technological innovation in the yachting industry.
Downtown: How
are you planning on installing it and where exactly will it be located?
GV: The yacht will be coming in two parts and will be assembled onsite overnight. It will be in the heart of Times Square at Times Square Plaza between 43rd & 44th Streets.
Downtown: Will the public be able to tour it or just gape at a 60-foot-long yacht sitting in the middle of Times Square?
GV: On-site activations will include public education activities in partnership with One Ocean Foundation and a public announcement of the Azimut Benetti Group’s Can You See/Sea The Future, a student design competition organized with Arts Thread. Representatives of Azimut Benetti Group will also take part in Design Pavilion’s Design Talk Series, appearing at the Impact Design Summit on May 13, 2019 to address innovations in sustainability. They will also host a discussion led by New York Magazine’s Wendy Goodman focused on art & design in luxury lifestyle on May 14, 2019. These programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. For anyone interested, please register through Design Pavilion’s website here.
Downtown: What brought about this idea and how did you manage to put this plan into action
GV: The installation aligns with a broader brand initiative deeply connected to the DNA of the company, which has always been about breaking the “traditional” rules, introducing surprising elements to the nautical world and disrupting the accepted order of things.
A yacht outside its usual context, sitting in the iconic Times Square, is definitely not your normal situation. This alters your perception of what is “normal” and what is possible –this is what we want to convey. It’s a symbolic representation of how we work and of our innovative spirit in the design and technology which distinguish our projects.
We did a similar installation outside of the Triennale de Milano during Salone del Mobile in 2018, but for our 50th Anniversary we wanted to celebrate here in New York because the US Market has been crucial to our success.
Downtown: What are some of the coolest design elements your yachts sport?
GV: Today we are in the midst of a renewed dialogue between exterior and interior spaces where the latter are becoming more and more “permeable” and are opening up towards the external environment. In 2000, we were the first to open up and “free” our cabins, removing the traditional small portholes and replacing them with lovely large windows. This wasn’t an easy change to make because it meant completely reexamining the structural aspect of the boat, but it has changed the industry.
Our style
code has become completely different from others. It is about contemporary,
forward-thinking architectural design. It’s more than opulence. It’s about many
small but exquisite details, rather than vast quantities of different
materials. It’s about elegance and discretion rather than showy displays.
Lastly, and most importantly, as the world’s largest megayacht manufacturer, Azimut Benetti Group feels a responsibility to consistently challenge the industry to improve. From hull shape evolution to innovative propulsion and broad use of carbon fiber, Azimut Benetti Group is investing in more efficient technology for a lower consumption product.
metrica, a global company with a focus on luxury superyacht and residential interiors, recently expanded to the US under its new North American CEO Mark Mantione. With a serious concentration on custom craftsmanship that translates to residential interiors as well, metrica is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of residences on and off the water. The German-born company’s portfolio of projects includes superyachts such as Odessa II, Al Mirqab, and Z, a plethora of high-end residential interiors around the world, and relationships with designers such as Tom Dixon, Terence Disdale, and Jon Bannenberg.
Mark Mantione, North American CEO of metrica.
Downtown: How would you describe metrica to our readers?
Mark Mantione: metrica is the global leader in iconic residential and superyacht interiors. We procure, engineer, fabricate, finish, and install the most luxurious and complex interiors in the world that include elements of wood, metal, glass, and stone. We also incorporate rare materials such as horn and mother of pearl as well as luxury elements like custom humidors into our work. metrica works with the world’s wealthiest individuals, and they keep coming back to us for the beautiful, high-end work we always deliver.
Downtown: How did a focus on luxury superyachts and interiors come about?
Photograph courtesy of metrica.
MM: The demand of our ultra-high net worth clientele seeking highly-customized interiors led us to specialize in this niche market. There are very few companies worldwide that can achieve the level of craftsmanship that has become synonymous with metrica. We are the leader in this sector.
Downtown: As the new North American CEO, what are your plans for metrica in the U.S.?
MM: As we move into this new market, I plan to continue metrica’s legacy as the gold standard for iconic craftsmanship that the world’s leading architects, interior designers, and clients continue to look for in their builds.
Photos courtesy of metrica.
Downtown: How does metrica work in both the luxury yachts and residential interiors sectors? Don’t they entail very different approaches? What are the similarities and differences in the design approach?
MM: Actually, yacht and residential interiors are similar in terms of methodology. The superyacht engineering and interior construction is now becoming the new way for residential interiors. In other words, residential interiors are now all engineered, fabricated, and finished in the shop the way yachts are. Once completed, they are shipped to the job site and installed with minimal cutting and only a few touch-ups to the finish.
Photo courtesy of metrica.
Downtown: What is one of your favorite superyacht projects to date? Can you describe the end result?
MM: My personal favorite is Aquila. It was a 85.6 meter (281’) refit of an American built yacht. The interior was transformed from a “classic” aesthetic into a cool and contemporary look. All 5 of Aquila’s decks were radically transformed within a 12-month period. This was an astonishing amount of work completed in an equally astonishing amount of time.
Downtown: How many superyachts has metrica worked on? What sets metrica apart from other yacht interiors’ designers?
MM: To date, we have completed over 100 new builds and more than 200 refits. As far as what sets us apart, designers like to use metrica because of our impeccable, old world craftsmanship combined with the most modern technology and machinery on the market. Our expertise in legendary interiors, both on land and at sea, is unrivaled in the industry, which is why the world’s wealthiest come to metrica for every type of residence.
Downtown: In what other countries does metrica work?
MM: We have current and past projects in the United States, the UK, France, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Qatar.
Photo courtesy of metrica.
Downtown: Is it true that your team is comprised of over 230 carpenters, technicians, engineers and architects? How much customization goes into each project?
MM: More, actually. We are now closer to 300 and growing. Every detail on every single project is fully custom, and everything we engineer and build is one-of-a-kind. We work on some of the most challenging and complex projects anyone has ever seen. Every new job sees new challenges that require research, development, and extreme attention to detail, and meeting each new challenge is a point of pride for our team.
Downtown: What about your team do you think separates you from other firms altogether?
MM: Our culture. We are all Metricans, which means we care as much about our employees as we do our clients. That results is a win-win for everyone and inspires us to provide our clients with the absolute best result we can. That’s why our motto is “your way to perfection” – our team makes sure that our clients never receive anything less than a flawless end result.
Downtown: Where is metrical located?
MM: We have our headquarters in Senden, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Our second manufacturing plant is close by, offering another 125,000 square feet. In the United States, our headquarters is in Greenwich, CT, and we will soon be running a large manufacturing operation in the northeast United States.
Downtown: What projects are you working on now?
MM: In the US, we currently have three large residential projects in New York City, one in Boston, one in Palm Beach, two in San Francisco, and one in Malibu, as well as yacht projects in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. In Europe, we have eleven superyacht projects throughout Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain, along with residential projects in Paris, Zurich, London, and Moscow.
Prince Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa is not just the founder, owner and president of Pier59 Studios, the largest photography studio in the world. He is also the founder and president of the Art and Fashion Group. He is also the owner of Industry Model Management, which has a new office in New York City. The SoHo resident is also a top photographer.
The photography of Prince Federico is showcased in his new hardcover book, The Great Beauty. Beyond offering breathtaking photographs, The Great Beauty is also distinct in using images taken by both the Hasselblad digital camera and the 6K RED Dragon high-resolution camcorder. All proceeds for the book will reportedly go to the International Rescue Committee.
Downtown caught up with Prince Federico for some Q&A about his various businesses prior to New York Fashion Week. He also introduced us to Christina Neault, the Global Fashion & Events Consultant & Director of Fashion Programing for Pier59 Studios, and Brunella Casella, Vice President of Industry Model Management.
More info on all things Prince Federico — including The Great Beauty — can be found at www.pier59studios.com.
Pier59 Studios
You started off in real estate and then moved into the art world. Was there a specific person that inspired that?
Prince Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa: I started as a financial journalist and then moved to real estate and later finance as to became an investment banker. I was so fully immersed in business, but always with an unabated passion for photography and videography, that I practiced at any opportunity in my free time. It was not a person that inspired me, but my inner passion for visual art!
How would you describe your new book to someone that hasn’t yet seen it?
PF: Unusual, provocative…all about a fantastic dream of elegance, sensuality and life at its best!
Do you have a favorite piece of art within there?
PF: The women! To me a beautiful woman is an expression of art…alive expressions of art, in all different forms, shades and depth!
PF: I believe it is the first art book using photos from video frames.
Do you have plans for another book?
PF: Yes — more than one! But it takes time and also quite some money to make it at the level that I do things. I am already working on a plan for my next one…
When starting Pier59 Studios, did you plan it to be the largest photography studio there is? Or did that evolve over time?
PF: It was in my plans for day one, and with a lot of passion and work, it became a reality!
PF: Always something new! We are a creative platform, always with the “next” in mind!
How did you first meet Prince Federico?
Christina Neault: I originally met Federico when I was scouting locations in L.A., and then was reintroduced last year though a friend when he was looking to find someone to help with the NYFW program at Pier59 Studios. We instantly hit it off and I have been working with him ever since.
Brunella Casella: I’ve known him for a very long time but never had the chance to meet him in person. Then he called me to talk about the vision he had for the Industry Management and we immediately decided to meet, to explore the possibilities to share our experiences and visions about this business.
Christina Neault of Pier59 Studios
What can you tell me about Fashion Week at Pier59?
CN: This season we have once again dedicated our entire facility to create three adaptable runway spaces as well as a flexible presentation space to suit our designers creative needs
Who are some of the designers that you are working with?
CN: I am super-excited about so many of our designers this season: 5:31 Jérôme, A Détacher, Carmen Marc Valvo, Collina Strada, Concept Korea, Custo Barcelona, Delpozo, Dion Lee, Fashion Palette, God Save Queens, Harlem’s Fashion Row, Hellessy, Katty Xiomara, LVL XIII, Michelle Helene, Miguel Vieira, Pamella Roland, Zang Toi, and Zero + Maria Cornejo.
Brunella, what can you tell me about Industry Model Management?
BS: The Industry is a boutique agency representing models for both print and motion. We already have an agency in Los Angeles and we are building the one in New York right now. It is a very creative adventure and I’m really happy to have the support of the Pier59 Studios as this entity already has extensive relationships and resources, and inspiring culture that embraces creativity, art and beauty. This will gives to the Industry Management a distinct advantage over the competitors.
When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
PF: With my amazing 12-year old daughter Lucrezia, sharing the passion of navigating and exploring new places on my two yachts, one in the Caribbean and the other one in the Mediterranean…but always taking pictures or videos! In fact Lucrezia has inherited my passion and she is an excellent photographer on her own. The youngest, I know!
CN: I have a house upstate near Hudson. I spend my weekends up there enjoy cooking, entertaining and relaxing.
BS: I love to read and love the most do so by the sea, so as soon as I have some free time I take the subway and go to Rockaway Beach. summer or wintertime doesn’t matter to me. The sea is my life breath.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
PF: Love life, be passionate and work hard to make your dreams became reality!
CN: I look forward to the future of NYFW at Pier59 Studios.
BS: Never give up because life is beautiful and there is always hope.
What is your favorite summer Caribbean vacation hot spot? Jamaica? Turks and Caicos? Or Anguilla? Well, you may have to rethink you’re ideal destination for a sandy beach and clear water, because Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a luxury vacation dreamland with across the board comfort.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines islands feature exclusive, tropical getaways offering a variety of amenities, while not breaking the bank. SVG is located in the Caribbean Sea between Grenada and St. Lucia, and is made up of a chain of small exotic islands stretching southward across turquoise and blue waters. Garnering a lot of attention is Mustique Island, a part of the alluring 32 island archipelago.
Tobago Cays Boats | Credit: Kay Wilson
DOWNTOWN caught up with Nubia Duvall Wilson, who has been to Mustique numerous times, for the inside scoop about SVG. Wilson is a luxury travel expert with a distinguished travel background. She has represented Bacardi in Travel Retail and luxury hotels and destinations around the world since 2008. Since 2003, Wilson has traveled to more than 40 destinations globally and lived in Taiwan for two years.
“It is an area of the Caribbean that isn’t your typical go to destination. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is where you feel isolated,” Wilson said. “The islands aren’t over developed, they are very lush, small and each island is different, so you have many options, which is nice. You get a more peaceful experience.”
Port Elizabeth | Credit: RPM Media
These islands and cays are renowned for their natural beauty, abundant sea life and many different options to accommodate their versatile visitors from all over the world. This favorable vacation destination is set to have a sharp increase in tourism with the building of the Argyle International Airport which will replace the existing ET Joshua Airport, and is expected to open in early 2015.
The new and improved airport will offer nonstop international jet service from North American and European gateways, increasing flights into SVG. Aside from the airport increasing access to these paradisal islands, the infrastructure and eco-friendly activities have been immensely re-constructed. Two new deep-water seaports were recently built, one exclusively for cruise ships in mainland St. Vincent.
In addition, the opening of 15 tourist sites are ready for excursionist’s enjoyment after restoration. The awe-inspiring activities include waterfalls, beaches, parks and botanical gardens to choose from. If you think that sounds great, a state-of-the-art marina is being built on Canouan Island and it’s expected to be the most outstanding marina in the Caribbean, accommodating 300 yachts and 6 mega-yachts.When thinking about these extravagant arrangements, there are also grand hotels and resorts for a place to rest your head in comfort.
Wilson recommended three great accommodations for your trip to paradise: Palm Island Resort, owned by Elite Island Resorts, has recently been renovated into an eco-friendly and green private island. This luxurious, all-inclusive resort just added four large suites. To access the island, guests take a complimentary 45-min air transfer from Barbados to Union Island then an 8 min boat ride to the resort.
Also, the wonderful Bequia Beach Resort is on eight acres of tropical gardens overlooking Friendship Beach. This five-star hotel includes 41 suites; featuring an expansive penthouse, three two-bedroom villas with private pools, three bungalows and 11 rooms. Buccament Bay Resort is an all-inclusive property where you can receive soccer and tennis coaching, and also includes the Pat Cash Academy and Liverpool Football Club Soccer School.
SVG is perfect for travelers looking to discover the undiscovered Caribbean. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are a concealed gem in the Caribbean perfect for the enterprising traveler. SVG offers all the amenities needed for a serene and tranquil vacation.
