It’s been more than 60 years since the founder of a supermarket chain opened the first incarnation of The Diplomat on South Ocean Drive in Hollywood. Back in those early days, entertainment was part of the allure—A-listers Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr. and Liza Minnelli all played the hotel, and Arthur Godfrey taped his radio
Read More
Sandra Tagliamonte Broker/Vice President One Sotheby’s International Her back story: Before she entered the real estate profession more than 20 years ago, Tagliamonte ran health clubs—and, later, sold Toshiba copiers. What separates Tagliamonte in the luxury markets she serves throughout Broward is that “I truly care about each customer that I work with. It’s not
Read More
Though her decadent, artfully rendered dessert creations often are front and center at the Riverside Hotel in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Sabrina Courtemanche considers herself more of a behind-the-house personality. That is, until the chef de partie for everything pastry related at the property—banquets, private dining, and desserts at in-house restaurants such as Wild Sea Oyster
Read More
Christine Stiphany Certified Residential Specialist Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/EWM Realty Her back story: Stiphany was working in the loan department at The Bank of Coral Gables when she received an unsolicited piece of advice from a customer named Ron Shuffield. He had opened a real estate firm and suggested that Stiphany earn her license. “After having
Read More
Chip Falkanger Broker Associate Florida Luxurious Properties His back story: Falkanger grew up “roaming the hallways” of his father’s architectural firm in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The years of being immersed in the worlds of architecture, development and contracting engendered in him a passion for real estate that exists to this day. When representing sellers, Falkanger
Read More
It’s been more than a decade since a sprawling new resort west of Walt Disney World became the biggest symbol of the Great Recession in Central Florida, a $150 million foreclosure that left the shell of the multi-building complex standing—and the commercial construction industry shaking. For the better part of seven years, the 106-acre site
Read More
Everything in life is a choice, except death and taxes. If you choose to perceive something negatively, that’s your choice. I choose to see the good. You have one life to live. Why not look at things in a way that propels you instead of stopping you? For much of my life, I had
Read More
Where: The Spa at Auberge Beach (2200 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) The treatments: Massages and body rituals involving the quartz table The lowdown: At first glance, nothing about the custom-manufactured Gharieni quartz treatment table screams ancient Egypt. Its chic body-length design and inversion gravity settings all speak to a work of contemporary wonder in
Read More
It’s not that the actor who’s delivered indelible performances in movies like “High Fidelity” and “Being John Malkovich” is a difficult interview. As attendees will discover when he comes to Fort Lauderdale this month for a viewing of “Say Anything” at Broward Center for the Performing Arts—followed by an anything-goes Q&A session—John Cusack doesn’t dodge
Read More
Danielle Petrie Yoga director, Sol Yoga, Fort Lauderdale How the past led her to fitness: I’ve always been passionate about movement and dance. When I stepped into my first yoga class, I knew it was meant to be. Growing up with adversity and seeing addiction, I really wanted to create a different life and approach,
Read More
Toni Costa Professional ballroom dancer, TV choreographer/actor, international Zumba instructor (including at Midtown Athletic Club in Weston) Familial footsteps: My family has always been linked to ballroom/dance sport; I started dancing at age 5. Dance requires a lot of endurance and flexibility, and dancers need to practice intensively, much like any other athlete. As I
Read More
Jamie Maitland Founder/owner, The Office; Fort Lauderdale What distinguishes her workout: Variety is the spice of life, and my exercise regimen includes variety. Our bodies are capable of being pushed to great limits, and I’ve designed my classes to do just that. At The Office, I offer nine different styles of full-body workouts. Some classes
Read More