Hôtel du Marc

For nearly two centuries, Hôtel du Marc has been a private oasis for guests of the champagne house, Veuve Clicquot. Constructed in 1840, this historic building in the heart of Reims, France has survived two world wars, the first leaving visual pockmarks on the building’s façades. While having been in the family’s possession since 1840 the maison underwent a four year renovation project to update the home with both traditional grandeur and modern day connivence and story telling. A perfect example of this is the ombré carpet on the grand staircase which is made to symbolize the wine making process from the chalky soil of the Champagne region of France to the deep burgundy red color of the pinot noir grapes used to create the house’s signature yellow label brut champagne. 

I found myself here commissioned with Kevin Burg to create videos for the brand in celebration of La Grande Dame which pays homage to the “Grande Dame de la Champagne,” Madame Clicquot who took over her husband’s wine making business at the age of 27 when he left her widowed in 1804. She turned a humble wine making venture into one of the first brands to develop the champagne technique and the rest is history. 

Though it bears “hotel” in the name, sadly it is not in the traditional sense of the word. The property is used privately by Veuve Clicquot to host friends, events, press, and business partners of the label so you can imagine how special it was to step inside such an exclusive place at the heart of the brand. 

You can see the short videos we created and get a more intimate peek inside here

 

Guide to Dallas, Texas

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There are two things I love dearly: Champagne & Texas. So it was a joy when Veuve Clicquot asked me to do an Instagram takeover guide to Dallas this past weekend! As if going back home could get any sweeter…

Below are the images in the series they edited down to their 5 favorites but here are a few of my other must see, eat, play places!:

Shopping

Forty Five Ten– A new luxury boutique offering designer clothes and home decor in a historic building surrounded with Texas live oaks with its own cafe.

Neiman Marcus– The historic flagship luxury retailer store opened originally in downtown Dallas in 1907 and still stands to this day with the chic Zodiac restaurant.

Grange Hall– A new and lavish shop that boasts and exquisite collection of home décor, jewelry, handbags, apothecary and other opulent oddities with a floral shop and gorgeous restaurant.

Cocktails

Five Sixty Reunion Tower– See in the above image. This chic and glamorous restaurant and bar by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck sits high atop Dallas in the Reunion Tower, a famous spherical piece of architecture iconic to the Dallas skyline.

Midnight Rambler– An underground craft cocktail salon located in the hip Joule Hotel in the heart of downtown Dallas.

Bowen House– Set in a historic house in Dallas’s cosmopolitan Uptown neighborhood, this charming and cozy watering hole serves craft cocktails and Texas bites.

Activities 

Nasher Sculpture Center– Located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, the Nasher is one of my favorite art museums to take in modern and contemporary sculptures, especially in their curated gardens.

Dallas Arboretum Botanical Garden– I grew up visiting this tranquil and beautiful 66-acre botanical garden with historic structures and sweeping views of White Rock Lake.

Dallas Farmer Market- A Texas-sized sprawling daily market with a focus on seasonal produce, local farms, speciality foods, honey and beds of flowers all for purchase.

The Rustic– Kick up your boots and listen to live Texas music on the patio under string lights at The Rustic in the heart of Dallas, featuring a bar stocked full of Texas made beers and liquors and farm to table eats.

EAT

Bolsa– A cool Bishop Arts District spot in a historic building known as Settles Garage with local seasonal food and amazing flatbreads.

Pecan Lodge– Texas BBQ joint located in Deep Ellum serves up classic comfort with a variety of smoked meats, sides and desserts served on no-frills metal trays, a true southern experience.

El Come Taco– Don’t let the location in a strip mall fool you- this small, loval and hip counter-service taqueria offers the best Mexican fare famous for their street tacos and breakfast tortas.


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Above~ Have champagne, will travel. The perfect backpack for both, by Buscemi

Below~ Attending Veuve Clicquot’s kick-off dinner at the Hotel Zaza starting a nationwide journey for the Champagne house in a silk satin dress by Kaelen & Schutz heels.

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Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic

Veuve Clicquot Polo (86)

Veuve Clicquot Polo (85)

Nothing kicks off the summer better than Veuve Clicquot’s Polo Classic at Liberty State Park under a shining sun and star-studded spectator tent. With the pop of champagne ringing in your ear and the rumble of horses galloping by, you feel the earth tremble from the power and might of each play. I love these afternoons, so sweet with champagne, so lost in beautiful people’s laughter, with the skyline of New York City watching on…

Cheers ~

Veuve Clicquot Polo (84) Veuve Clicquot Polo (83) Veuve Clicquot Polo (82) Veuve Clicquot Polo (81) Veuve Clicquot Polo (80)

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Champagne Dreams…

Yesterday marked the 230th anniversary of the 1st shipment of Veuve Clicquot Champagne to the United States, which was first ordered by a Frenchman living in Philadelphia who was familiar with the excellent sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France… what else would you expect from the French?! 

To mark this special occasion my darling friends at Veuve Clicquot along with Kelly Framel, Mat Sanders and Kevin Burg boarded a train from Penn Station in New York to Philadelphia, our port of call. A quick little trolly to a historic ship and then the Veuve Clicquot champagne began to flow!

As introduced by Veuve Clicquot’s Cellar Master Dominique Demarville, we sipped on a vintage Rosé from 1989 with hors d’oeuvres, Cave Privée Vintage from 1990 with appetizers, my favorite and a very special treat with the 1978 vintage pared with our main courses, and finishing with a lovely demi-sec and dessert.

I think it’s safe to say we dreamt in Champagne dreams and bubbles of beauty last night…

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