MARVELOUS, MYTHIC MYSTIC

Georgette Gouveia • May 7, 2025

A Voyage Through Mystic’s Storied Past and Promising Future 

When Charles Mallory, founder and CEO of the Greenwich Hospitality Group that includes Connecticut’s Delamar Hotel Collection, opens the Delamar Mystic in 2025, he will return to a place that is rich in maritime history – both Connecticut’s and his own.

“My namesake Charles Mallory arrived in Mystic as a sailmaker’s apprentice in 1816,” he said. “My family has been deeply tied to the community and Connecticut's maritime heritage for over 200 years. My children represent the seventh generation of Mallorys in Connecticut.



“With my grandfather, great-uncle and father all having served as presidents of the Mystic Seaport Museum since its founding in 1929, this hotel and restaurant project on its campus is especially meaningful to me. I am excited to bring the Delamar brand as well as our exceptional food and beverage offerings to this special destination where we plan to create great memories and experiences for our guests and the local community.”


Added Mallory of what he described as “a natural fit”: “The waterfront location and views are unrepeatable in Connecticut, and it is a perfect bookend to Delamar Greenwich Harbor at the eastern corner of the state. Mystic is the tourism hub of Connecticut....”


Part of what makes it the tourism hub is a cultural and maritime history that long predates the Mallorys. It’s a story of conflict – among native peoples, between native peoples and colonists and between the colonies of Connecticut and Massachusetts Bay – that was the making of Mystic today.


The name “Mystic” comes from the Pequot “missi-tuk” for the large, tidal river that divides the village of Mystic between the towns of Groton and Stonington. Before the 17th century, the rising Pequot nation lived in this area in southeastern Connecticut, safe enough from the warring Iroquois to the northwest but not from the rival Narragansetts and Mohegans. They joined forces with disgruntled European settlers in the Pequot War (1636-38), a fight for control of the area and its fur trade that resulted in the destruction of the Pequot.


The subsequent Treaty of Hartford (1638), however, only led to further conflict between Connecticut and Massachusetts Bay over which colony had authority over the area. In the 1660s, Mystic became part of Connecticut permanently. By then, infrastructure, schools and houses of worship were developing.


But what would put the village on the map internationally was the shipbuilding trade that began in 1784. Over the next 135 years, some 600 ships would be built. Today the Mystic Seaport Museum – the largest such museum in the country – pays tribute to that maritime past with the recreation of a 19th-century seaport village and a collection of historic ships that includes the 1841 whaling vessel Charles W. Morgan.


Mystic has honored that history in ways that have contributed to an equally storied present. Think 24-hour marathon readings of “Moby Dick” to celebrate author Herman Melville’s Aug. 1 birthday that includes sleepovers on the Morgan.


Perhaps no event has married past and present more dramatically than the 1998-2000 recreation of the Amistad, a Cuban cargo schooner that became embroiled in an 1839 transatlantic incident in which its “cargo” – 53 kidnapped Africans bound for slavery – revolted, commandeering the ship in international waters. La Amistad was captured off Montauk Point, Long Island in New York, with the ship towed to New London, Connecticut, and the Africans jailed in New Haven, Connecticut, where they quickly became a cause célèbre among abolitionists. In a suit and countersuit that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court – where the Africans were represented in part by former President of the United States John Quincy Adams, then a congressman – the Africans emerged victorious.


We were privileged to witness the Amistad’s recreation and cherish as a paperweight a block of white pine – the same wood used to bring the ship to new life. Today, the New Haven-based Amistad America operates as a touring educational vessel.


It’s one more way in which Mystic has connected the past, present, and future.


For more, visit delamar.com and mysticseaport.org.

The Missing Piece to Longevity: Why Stability Is the Secret Sauce

By Colleen Richmond • May 10, 2025
L et’s be honest: fitness trends come and go faster than a green juice cleanse in January. One minute it's all about burpees and boot camps, and the next it’s Pilates reformers and infrared saunas. But what if the real key to long-term strength, grace, and movement longevity isn’t about doing more, but doing it smarter? Enter Pvolve , the low-impact fitness method making serious waves—and turning serious heads. When Jennifer Aniston joined the brand in 2023, it wasn’t just another celeb deal. Jen had hit a wall—burnt out from demanding film shoots, intense workouts, and a back injury that left her searching for a gentler, more sustainable way to move. After seeing a friend’s transformation, she gave Pvolve a try—and never looked back. So what’s the secret behind this sculpt-and-stabilize revolution? The Power of "Functional Fitness" (That’s Actually Fun) Pvolve isn’t about punishing your body—it’s about partnering with it. Founded in 2017 by Rachel Katzman after her own fitness routine left her aching and exhausted (hello scoliosis pain), Pvolve was built to feel good and work better. With a Clinical Advisory Board, expert trainers, and a totally unique method, Katzman flipped the script on what workouts should feel like: effective, energizing, and dare we say… enjoyable. Every PVolve session is grounded in functional movement , meaning it trains your body to move the way you do in real life. Think: twisting, reaching, balancing, and stabilizing. You’ll tone those arms and abs, yes—but also build a body that bends, twists, and struts confidently through your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. Meet Your New Best Friend: Stability We talk a lot about strength and cardio, but stability? That’s the unsung hero of staying fabulous as we age. Here’s the real tea: as estrogen starts to dip (usually in our late 30s), women begin to lose muscle mass, bone density, and—surprise!—balance. This is where Pvolve truly shines. Every class weaves in stability training, from single-leg moves to those deceptively simple holds that light your core on fire. But it’s not just about muscle. It’s about reflexes , bone health , and even cognition . Yes, you read that right—balance training can actually boost your brain. We’re talking sharper memory, better focus, and faster reactions (perfect for catching that glass of rosé before it hits the floor). Bones Love It. Brains Love It. Your Back Will Love It. Studies show that single-leg work and light plyometrics promote bone growth, especially at the hips, where aging women are most at risk for fractures. Pvolve’s smart, targeted movements put just enough stress on the skeleton to encourage density without overloading joints. Add in vestibular training (your body’s GPS for balance and posture), and you’re not just future-proofing your body—you’re giving it a total tune-up. Think of it like this: every Pvolve class is a little love letter to your future self. Stronger legs? Check. Better balance? Yes. Improved coordination, agility, and confidence? Triple yes. Why Jennifer (and So Many of Us) Are All In Jen isn’t chasing skinny—she’s chasing sustainable. And so are we. Pvolve offers something rare in today’s fitness culture: a method that meets you where you are, helps you feel amazing now, and sets you up for a long, vibrant life full of movement and joy. This isn’t about punishment or perfection. It’s about building a body that works with you, not against you. The VIVANT Takeaway Strength is beautiful. Grace is powerful. And stability? That’s your golden ticket to longevity. Whether you’re 39 or 69, now’s the time to train smart, love your body, and embrace the movement method that’s rewriting the rulebook.  Pvolve isn’t just a workout—it’s the missing piece. And once you find it, trust us: you won’t want to let it go.

Using the PAST to Inform the PRESENT and the FUTURE

By Georgette Gouveia • May 8, 2025
Greenwich Historical Society is one organization that grasps the import of the Roman philosopher and historian Seneca’s advice to “combine all times.”  Its library and archives – containing more than 40,000 items, including personal papers, manuscripts, genealogies and maps – are a rich repository of Greenwich’s past that also helps today’s homeowners connect to property records. Its exhibits and events like its Juneteenth celebration focus visitors on the past and present. And its eye is ever on the future through its support of Greenwich’s business community and newcomers to the town. Or as the historical society’s website says: “We preserve and interpret Greenwich history to strengthen the community’s connection to our past, to each other, and to our future.” Founded in 1931 on two acres overlooking the Mianus River in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich, the historical society has four key structures – the Bush-Holley House, the 1732 saltbox-style residence of the mercantile Bush family that in the late-19th and early-20th centuries became the summer home of a group of American Impressionist painters known as the Cos Cob Art Colony; the Bush Storehouse (1805), now the historical society’s offices; the Barn, now the Vanderbilt Education Center; and a 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Museum & Library Building (2018), whose store and café lie in the connected former Toby’s Tavern, a 19th-century railroad hotel, said Debra L. Mecky, the historical society’s CEO and executive director. Colorful, informally arranged flower, herb and vegetable gardens recreate those planted by Constant Holley MacRae and her artist-husband, Elmer Livingston MacRae, who ultimately ran the summer boardinghouse for the art colony, which included Childe Hassam, Ernest Lawson, Theodore Robinson, J. Alden Weir and John Henry Twatchman. (The Twatchman catalog raisonné of more than 750 works began debuting on the historical society’s website in 2021, with his “Front Porch,” an 1896-99 oil on canvas of the front porch of the artist’s Greenwich home being a recent acquisition.) In keeping with the historical society’s mission to tell the fuller story of Greenwich for a broader audience, Bush-Holley House tours also include the chamber where some of the Bush family’s 16 enslaved servants may have slept, with a record of their names – a departure from many of the slave records kept in the South. (Emancipation laws in Connecticut required the recording of all enslaved children born after 1784, Mecky said.) That colonial period comes alive with the exhibit “Greenwich During the Revolutionary War: A Frontier Town on the Front Lines.” “We were on the New York/Connecticut border,” she said of Greenwich’s strategic role in the American Revolution. “The exhibit considers the complexities of that time, the pressure to announce your loyalties and what that meant.” The exhibit accompanied by talk by Joseph Ellis, author of “The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents,” and related TimeTravelers KidStudio programs. But the historical society – which has a full-time staff of 24 and an operating budget of $2 million funded by members, its board, and the larger community – is also very much focused on the present and the future. Its Oct. 24th gala at the Round Hill Club honored Scott Mitchell, who with Tyler Mitchell leads the luxury Mitchell Stores, a multigenerational family business that includes Richards on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich. “Honoring Scott and the Mitchell family at this year’s ‘History in the Making’ event triggered an idea to promote Greenwich Avenue,” a spokeswoman said. “While details are not finalized, the historical society in 2025 is planning to offer various tours, possibly guided and self-guided, that will provide context on the history of the avenue’s dynamic and evolving retail sector and the structures housing it. This initiative will be an extension of the ‘Discover Greenwich’ series of interactive programs that promotes a sense of place and belonging, sparks dialogue and inspires meaningful connections across our diverse community.” It’s one more way, added Dianne Niklaus, the historical society’s director of marketing and communications, in which the society explores “how the past informs the present and the future.” For more, visit greenwichhistory.org.

UNLOCKING the MAGIC of MUSTIQUE

By Dorian May • May 7, 2025
In a world where social media has turned the notion of discretion into a nearly extinct experience, people who seek out luxurious holidays without sacrificing privacy can still find solace on the Caribbean Island of Mustique; the if-you-know-you-know tropical getaway for those who value discretion over ostentation. The island boasts a deep Royal history, with the late Princess Margaret famously describing Mustique as "the only place I can relax". She frequently fled the gaze of Buckingham Palace to Les Jolies Eaux, a five-bedroom villa gifted to her by her friend and the island's original owner, Lord Colin Tennant.  Tennant purchased the island from St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1958 for approximately $126,000 to cultivate a haven for his aristocratic friends, including the princess. In the globally popular series "The Crown", Princess Margaret is depicted picnicking and partying on the island. Though paparazzi were and still are unwelcome, legendary soirees like hers drew the likes of Mick Jagger and David Bowie, who eventually both became Mustique homeowners now woven into the island's famed folklore. For the past 60 years, a glamorous array of jet setters, including royals like Prince William and Princess Kate, musicians like Jagger and Beyoncé, moguls such as Tommy Hilfiger and supermodels like Kate Moss, have continued to vacation on the island, preserving in tandem, theirs and the island's mystique. From the one (short) airport runway and thatched roof terminal to the quant Bamboo Church, it is quickly evident upon arrival that Mustique has managed to preserve the authentic minimalism that made the destination so coveted. The unpaved roads and pristine beaches remain unspoiled by resort development, and the lush greenery still is wild and natural along the roads, which guests traverse on "mules" (nee golf carts), the preferred mode of transport on the island. A-listers book far in advance to secure their favorite villa or suites in the island's one five-star hotel, The Cotton House. Each of the hundred or so exceptional homes on the 1400-acre island boasts individual history, architectural style, décor and dynamic views. The experience of renting one of the villas here truly feels like a one-of-a-kind custom experience. Each property is staffed with butlers, chefs, gardeners and housekeepers who skillfully manage every aspect of your daily life while on the island, feeling like you are in your own home sans the rigors of management. No matter what your aesthetic style, here you are spoilt for choice; one can rent Princess Margaret's Les Jolies Eaux, a traditional colonial, or Sienna, which is a pink terracotta-roofed Italian chateau with corridors punctuated by endless arches framing sea views and turning them into museum-like masterpieces. The magical tiled pool has a built-in grotto festooned with murals. At French chateau style CoccoLoba, peer straight out to sweeping ocean vistas upon entering and drink them in with lunch or cocktails in the bespoke poolside tiki hut. Conch shells line the entry to beachside La Palma, recently refurbished by award-winning design firm Paolo Moschino Inc. This white one-story residence with direct beach access from the yard boasts playful mixes of patterns and colors with blue hues in the shared living spaces echoing the ocean. A shaded set of stone steps leads up to the oasis of Serenity Bay situated fifty feet above Britannia Bay and aptly named, providing endless 360 turquoise water views. Taliesin, a contemporary Frank Lloyd Wright inspired villa feels like a Zen retreat. A freestanding bathtub sits in the main bedroom behind the master bed where sweeping views of both the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans greet you. The property has a cool compound feel with a yoga pavilion, gardens, an outdoor cinema and a large gong which is used to signal mealtime. The beauty of Mustique is that the day can be spent doing almost nothing but enjoying the tropical beauty or on the go by creating a more active schedule. Take to the water for sailing, snorkeling scuba diving, or simply floating in the ocean. Swim with the turtles at Tobago Cays or ride horses along the beaches. Mustique sits in a space between the Caribbean and the Atlantic, and each beach articulates this. The Atlantic-facing Macaroni Beach enjoys powerful waves, while the more secluded Gelliceaux Beach on the Caribbean side is a more tranquil hideaway. On the island's southwest, Lagoon Bay area is equipped with tables your staff can help you organise for over-the-top picnics staffed, furnished, and often featuring freshly prepared Caribbean lobster and rosé. A nearby shark cave and some shipwrecks offer opportunities for scuba diving. The Cotton House's Beach Café is a bucolic spot on Endeavor Bay for lunch on the deck while reggae plays, and the bartender serves rum punch with a secret ingredient "a lot of love." Charter a boat, windsurf, pedal or paddle are all available at the dock nearby. Curate your own idyllic wellness journey by checking out the numerous picturesque hikes at various levels of challenge. Wake up early to beat the heat and drive your mule to the top of Rutland Bay for a hike exploring the island's Northeastern tip. Pass the grazing horses in the Island Sanctuary with mountains and ponds in the foreground. The path leads into a glistening bay reflecting the morning sun. Follow the marked trail, wind up the hill on the clay path, and curve around the island's uninhabited, lush and rocky perimeter. You are greeted along the way by turtles, frogs, herons and butterflies; each clearing exposes jaw-dropping and expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean. Follow the hike with a yoga class held at the exercise pavilion, a plein air structure. Enjoy your practice while gazing out at the sea, a thatched roof shielding the direct sun and the sound of the waves meditative. One of the newest additions to the island is a state-of-the-art gym boasting full range of Life Fitness equipment and floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the adjacent lily pond. The full-service spa is steps away, with customized treatments also available in room or villa. For as idyllic as most days in Mustique are, evenings can be quite social and buzzy, filled with opulent cocktail parties hosted by guests and exuberantly organised by staff in the private villas or by the manager at The Cotton House. There may not be any nightclubs on the island, but that doesn’t mean Mustique regulars don’t know how to let loose. Internationally renowned Basil’s Bar, a seaside watering hole where Mick Jagger and Bon Jovi have spontaneously taken the stage, is a legendary dive where, every Wednesday, the weekly Jump Up party draws the entire island for dancing and live music from a notoriously good cover band. Infamous bartender-owner Basil Charles is still known as the king of the island and even attended the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Mustique truly is the definition of quiet luxury, a term that was popularized in recent years to define a lifestyle focused on refined elegance rather than ostentatious showing of wealth. Unlike its bougies sister destinations such as St Barth or St Tropez, this is not the kind of place you spot Chanel swimwear, logoed bikinis or table service where sparkler-topped champagne is served by scantily clad waitresses. It has all the glitz and glamour without being gaudy. If Mustique had a personality type, it would be an extroverted introvert, someone who is outgoing but also thrives with quiet time. To get to Mustique, you’ll head to St. Lucia or Barbados, then connect through a Mustique Airways flight—take my word for it, you won’t want to leave.
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