Go on an overhead journey, virtually walking through the Netherlands and see the diverse landscape of this country.
Top Homes & Estates: “Pyramid Point” In St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Stark-white exteriors elegantly enhanced by walls of glass and seven pyramid-shaped spires, inspired by the original owners’ travels to Egypt, define this visionary architectural design, not to mention the home’s name. Inside, the result is six soaring pyramidal vaulted ceilings of African mahogany with beautiful skylights at their peaks to welcome in the sun and starlit night skies, and a seventh creating and interior glasses atrium.
The architectural theme begins at the stone and stainless-steel front gate, topped with a white pyramid frame. Proceeding down the palm-lined and landscaped gravel drive, the ocean vista remains partially hidden from view while continuing up the granite walkway passing a grand cylindrical stone structure, reminiscent of the sugar mills that once sustained the island economy, and the cottages on the estate grounds.
Minimalist interiors perfectly harmonize with its Caribbean island backdrop by allowing nature to lead the design. The living and dining rooms are surrounded on three sides by sliding walls of glass inviting in the ocean views and sea breezes.
Expansive Amenities
The property includes three additional cottages for guests. The Reef House, the Beach House, and the Tamarind House are ultimately private and offer a total of five additional bedroom suites, spacious living areas, kitchens, and private patios overlooking the water. Outside an oasis of serenity awaits with covered terraces off the living roomand three bedrooms overlooking the pool, another terrace off the dining room for alfresco entertaining, grassy expanses, native plantings, swaying palm trees, some connected by hammocks, and the blue-tiled circular pool on a deck of silver-white granite from Sicily. Shoys Beach, arguably one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean is directly accessed from the property.
The night views of the twinkling lights of the historic town of Christiansted and the more distant landfall are enchanting. There are two additional stone sugar mill buildings on the property, complementing the one at the entry. Two are used for equipment storage and one as a beach changing room with facilities. Golf, tennis, and fine dining are nearby in the adjacent Buccaneer Resort. Yacht owners can moor their vessels next to Pyramid Point at the Green Cay Marina.
Aviation: “Top 15 Solar & Electric Aircraft” (2020)
Featured Electric Aircraft and Airplanes:
- 0:28 Bye Electric eFlyer All-electric training aircraft https://electricflyer.com/ Starts at USD $350,000
- 1:18 Yuneec E430 Low maintenance & simple to fly https://www.yuneec.com/en_US/home.html Starts at USD $89,000
- 1:58 Eviation Alice World’s first all-electric commuter https://www.eviation.co/ Starts at USD $4,000,000
- 2:49 Colomban Cri-Cri Smallest twin-motored manned aircraft Designed by Michel Colomban. Price depends on the build
- 3:34 EuroSport Crossover Two-seat motor glider Designed by Eurosport Aircraft Price unavailable
- 4:17 Long ESA Aircraft First electric aircraft to break 200 mph http://www.flightofthecentury.com/ Price depends on the build
- 4:54 Pipistrel ALPHA Electro World’s first two-seat electric trainer https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/ Starts at USD $98,000
- 5:49 AutoFlightX V600 Dual-wing, two-seater https://autoflightx.com/ Price unavailable
- 6:45 Pipistrel Taurus Electro First electric production two-seater https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/ Starts at USD $129,500
- 7:40 Airbus A3 Vahana Single-seat, tilt-wing eVTOL https://www.airbus.com/ Price unavailable
- 8:33 Sunseeker Duo First two-seat, solar powered airplane https://www.solar-flight.com/ Price unavailable
- 9:25 Ruppert Archaeopteryx High-wing, pod-and-boom, micro lift glider https://www.ruppert-composite.ch/en/ Starts at USD $78,000
- 10:17 NASA X-57 Maxwell Experimental aircraft from…NASA! https://www.nasa.gov/ Price unavailable
- 11:18 Solar Impulse 1 Experimental, long-range solar aircraft https://solarimpulse.com/ Price unavailable
- 12:12 Antares 23E Self-launch capable sailplane https://www.lange-aviation.com/ Price unavailable
Future Of Mobile Living: The “Ultimate ‘Self-Build’ Van Conversion (Video)
Dietlind Schirmer (AKA Schirmer Shoots) built this self-build camper over the course of 6 months in cold, wintery England. She has done an incredible job with this van conversion and I would say it’s one of the best I’ve seen. The shower wet-room is really cool with it’s stone wall like finish and the way she has managed to fit a fixed double bed, permanent dining area, bathroom, kitchen and hidden storage for two surfboards is ingenious. Not to mention the massive underfloor storage and hidden secret compartment!
New Restaurants: “Ampia Rooftop NYC” – “Sanitary, Social Distance Dining”
Ampia Rooftop (Ampia meaning “Space” in Italian) is a sprawling 4,500 Sq. foot outdoor rooftop terrace featuring individual greenhouses for a social distance dining experience, opulent clusters of colorful flower gardens, and Italian-themed art and décor dispersed throughout. Chef Michele Iuliano offers up an authentic Italian menu of lite casual fare, along with a selection of inventive seafood paninis.
Restaurant Business (August 1, 2020) – The first step was a name change. When New York City announced that restaurants could open for outdoor dining during Phase 2, the Iulianos changed the name from Gnoccheria Rooftop to Ampia—a move that gave it a distinct identity. Then they set about redesigning the space to satisfy all the restrictions.
The entire space was sprayed with an electrostatic sanitary coating, including the tables, chairs, bar and every touchable surface. The process sanitizes for up to three months. The pair also purchased a facial recognition thermometer and all the essential PPE specified in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Phase 2 guidelines.
Next, the space was reconcepted from the original 250-seat restaurant to an outdoor dining venue with a limited bar and food menu. The beer garden in the original plan had to be scrapped; it’s impossible to enforce social distancing in that kind of setting. Instead, tables were spread out and seating areas set far apart, accommodating 60 to 65 guests.
The regulations around social distancing state that if tables cannot be arranged six feet apart, a restaurant can use plexiglass dividers between them. But the Iulianos wanted to infuse Ampia with the same stylish elements that differentiate their other restaurants.
Media Podcasts: New European Magazine Titles
Monocle 24 – The Stack looks at first issues of European magazine titles on the newsstands: ‘Limbo’, ‘Légende’, ‘command+i’ and ‘The White Room’.
Top New Travel Videos: “Flying Over Bagan, Myanmar” Directed By Martien Janssen (2020)
Filmed and Edited by: Martien Janssen
The ancient city of temples at Bagan, Myanmar, captured by drone. I’m quite proud of this movie, there’s nothing like this out there.
Bagan is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar.
Sports & Apparel: The History Of The “Nike Air Jordan” Basketball Shoes
‘Michael Jordan’s tremendous impact on basketball and sneakers is universally acknowledged, and it can be easy to think there aren’t any new stories to add to the legend,’ says John McPheters, co-founder and CEO of Stadium Goods. ‘But as we’ve seen with The Last Dance and now with our Original Air auction at Christie’s, there are still lesser-known narratives in the legacy that create great interest.’
‘The shoes span art, pop culture and sports history,’
Michael Jordan ended his first season as a professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls by being crowned Rookie of the Year. It was the summer of 1985 and Jordan was soon to become one of the most recognised people on the planet.
The New York Times described his debut performance as ‘phenomenal’, and Sports Illustrated declared ‘A Star Is Born’ when he made the front cover.
World News Podcast: Hong Kong Elections, European Economies
The Economist discusses latest news on Hong Kong postponing elections, the potential sale of popular video app Tik Tok to Microsoft, and other world news.
Political News: “Shields & Brooks” On The Latest In Washington (PBS Video)
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including the question of whom Joe Biden will choose as his running mate, congressional failure to deliver another pandemic aid package and President Trump’s rhetoric about mail-in voting.
