Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2024 i Zoomer Magazine

SPOTLIGHT Our new creative director, Tanya Watt, has spent her 30-plus-year career producing innovative content and immersive digital experiences across various platforms, especially for Canadian magazines such as as Flare, Weddingbells, enRoute and Toronto Life. The Toronto mom of two has won awards at every stop, including National Magazine Awards for best cover and best art direction, while somehow finding time to lecture at the Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University. Chris Bond joins us as art director, bringing 25 years experience in the print publishing arena, at well-known magazines such as Canadian Living, where he was the artistic force designing the magazine and popular cookbooks, Style at Home, ELLE Canada and HELLO! Canada. We look forward to tapping into his technical expertise as we expand our digital offerings.…

UP Toot toot, hey, beep beep! Bad girls, dig out your sequined jumpsuits and platform shoes because disco’s back The new docu-series Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution, which celebrates the enduring influence of the ’70s music craze as well as icons like Donna Summer (left), Gloria Gaynor and the Bee Gees, premières on PBS in June. Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, recently received a pacemaker and says he’s recovering well Which is a relief, because his classic catchphrase “Get to the chopper!” is so much cooler than “Get the defibrillator!” Sean Ono Lennon, 48, and James McCartney, 46 – the sons of John and Paul – co-wrote a new song called Primrose Hill Though their follow-up singles – Assistance!, Orange Torpedo and Col. Paprika’s Happy Love Bunch Singers – seem a…

Uncommon by Mark Divine The former Navy SEAL commander pushed thousands of recruits and civilians past their limits through his SEALFit, Unbeatable Mind and Kokoro yoga regimens. In his sixth book, the 60-year-old American “warrior monk” advises readers on how to live an extraordinary life. Restore by Jim Donnelly and Steve Welch The Restore Hyper Wellness co-founders share how their treatments reverse pain, health issues and, they claim, aging. At 53, Donnelly, who regularly indulges in some of the Texas-based company’s “modalities,” like cryotherapy (a soak in sub-zero water) and IV drips of vitamins and antioxidants, says he is “younger today, if you measure my inner age, than I was six years ago.” The Longevity Imperative by Andrew J. Scott The London economist, co-author of The 100-Year Life, wants…

GEORGIA • RWANDA • ALBERTA • KENYA • LABRADOR • ICELAND • NEW BRUNSWICK In Savannah, they simply call it “The Book.” Squatting on the New York Times bestseller list for a record-smashing 216 weeks after its publication in 1994 (and later turned into a film directed by Clint Eastwood), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was part true crime, part trippy travelogue, part vault of Southern eccentricity. All the folly and all the gothic. A vicious murder in Georgia. A dubious, monied gent. A voodoo priestess. A gimlet-eyed drag queen. The tale is made all the more irresistible via one of the most vivid book covers: a graveyard statuette known locally as “Bird Girl,” a damsel with bowl in each upturned hand, set amid the azaleas…

Karen Marshall from Fleurs de Villes, an experiential floral event company, shares a few ideas to inspire your creations: 1. Find your wild side: Don’t worry about old-school flower-arranging rules. Today’s look is less structured and formal. Create free-form shapes. It’s all about an untethered, organic aesthetic. 2. Embrace the wonder of weeds: “Your garden is full of surprises and what looks like a weed can be really beautiful.” Gather the sunnny dandelions, goldenrod and black-eyed Susans that explode across Canada every summer to refresh your point of view. 3. Think in multiples: Replace a single floral centrepiece with many mini vases: “Place wildflowers in individual bud vases in multiples. How charming.” 4. Adjust your perspective: Revisit your relationship with traditionally sneered-at flowers like carnations and baby’s-breath. Call the…

IN THE RUN-UP to the 2024 Olympic Games, Canada’s Chef de Mission Bruny Surin, 56, has a message for the athletes: “I’m going to come to your practice. We’re going to make jokes. I’m going to meet your parents.” As the symbolic leader of Team Canada, the track and field star – who earned Olympic gold as part of the history-making men’s relay team in Atlanta ’96 – knows that cheerleading will be one of his main responsibilities in Paris. So he’s doing a deep dive into all the events. He’s tried canoe and kayak racing, boxing and, most recently, fencing. “After five minutes,” says the seventh-fastest sprinter of all time, “I’m like, ‘OK guys, let me catch my breath.’” On a serious note, he hopes he’ll be able…

A LIGHT TOUCH Lovely little rechargeable lamps are popping up at all our favourite restaurants, providing a gentle glow and making it easier to read the menu. Sleek, lightweight and portable, mostly illuminating with rechargeable LED power, these indoor-outdoor lights are perfect for al fresco dining. From the classic 1960s Verner Panton Flowerpot lamp to myriad other styles like the Sakringt cordless lamp from Amazon (right), choice abounds in versatile and happy summertime hues. SUIT YOURSELF Hygge, the Danish concept of contentment, is often translated as “warm hug.” That Nordic obsession gets literal with Sittingsuits (below), the lightly padded topper from Denmark, best described as a wearable sleeping bag, created as a sustainable way to extend patio season without outdoor heaters. Unisex and one size, its eye-catching windproof and…

They say business and pleasure don’t mix. But in the case of Gary Linford, 73 (left), and Carol Vincent, 69 (right), they do. Carol Vincent: I grew up a military brat and moved around a lot, but ended up in B.C. I was 50 and divorced with a grown son when I met Gary. Gary Linford: I thought I was way too old for Carol when I first met her, but I was only slightly older, 54, and also divorced. I don’t call what I do now “working,” but I spend my time as a coach for small businesses. I’ve been in business all my life, from finance to retail to manufacturing. CV: I’m still working part-time as a marketing consultant. Before that, I worked for a number of…

DO YOU KNOW WHAT AROACE MEANS? GREYROMANTIC? Or cupiosexual? When the boomer generation was growing up, they had three common labels to choose from: straight, gay and bisexual. As the 1990s drew to a close, transgender people began seeking shelter under the same umbrella, and the LGBT acronym was born. Life never stands still. Today’s young people are carving out increasingly specific sexual, romantic and gender niches. They may feel no sexual attraction toward other people (asexual). They can crave sexual contact, but lack sexual attraction (cupiosexual) or the desire for a romantic connection (aromantic). Maybe they see themselves as alterous, with feelings that fall somewhere between romantic and platonic, or simply as gender-variant or nonconforming, refusing to let traditional concepts of men and women define them. In one…

Dyson has done it again. They’ve taken a fairly ordinary thing, headphones, and created something fantastical. The Dyson Zone noise-cancelling headphones come with all the mod cons, including the ability to make clear calls in noisy places, 50 hours of battery life and reduced noise distortion. The twist? An air purifying travel visor that attaches with magnets. Air is pulled in through the ear cups, then filtered and projected out of the visor to your nose and mouth. The filtration system, which removes viruses, city fumes and 99 per cent of ultrafine pollutants, is hidden inside the ear cups. The only thing Dyson hasn’t thought of is how to make you look cool when wearing them. However, when the fashionable Canadian influencer twins, the Beckermans (above), tested the headphones…

There are endless ways to enjoy a movie, but it doesn’t get much better than a balmy night with a bucket of popcorn. Whether you prefer the nostalgic mood at the drive-in (in a vintage T-Bird, if possible) or that opening weekend energy in a packed air-conditioned theatre, the cinematic memories we make in the summer stay with us forever. This season promises no less as it kicks off in the most adorable way. Straight from their respective love-interest roles in the phenomenon that was Barbenheimer, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt tumble for each other in The Fall Guy, a charming action comedy loosely based on the ’80s TV series starring Lee Majors. Also on tap is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, a more serious, but just as hotly…

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE. I was beside my boss Moses Znaimer, the founder and CEO of ZoomerMedia Ltd., at a standing-room-only Andy Kim show when, between tunes, the pop legend addressed him from the stage. “How come Leonard Cohen is the only singer from Montreal you have ever put on your cover?” To be fair, Corey Hart has fronted Zoomer as well, but point taken. And in a blaze of CanCon glory, with Vancouver rocker Bryan Adams doing the honours wearing his photographer’s hat, Kim finally takes a well-deserved bow as our cover star. Kim is the perfect fit for an issue dedicated to answering another question: how to keep going. In “The Frontiers Of Aging Well” (pg. 46), we delve into the wild west of Silicon Valley-powered…

The phenomenon of landmark buildings that define cities’ identities: from Dubai’s Burj al Arab to the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank building to London’s The Shard, must have been top of mind when Freed Developments commissioned its 63-storey addition to Toronto’s skyline. The glossy highrise was unveiled at a buzzy party with Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, 62, as guest of honour. The trailblazer’s playful pop art draws on his childhood love of sci-fi and anime, and his radiant Together with the Flower Parent and Child sculpture will feature prominently in the skyscraper’s grand lobby. Murakami’s colourful balloon flower figures have adorned everything from NFTs to Louis Vuitton monogram bags, putting him at the intersection of pop culture, lifestyle and innovation, much like the ultra-luxe, multi-purpose tower itself. “This project…

It’s a fascinating take on the conundrum of cancer. In Curing Cancerphobia, former Harvard instructor and researcher David Ropeik argues that our fear of cancer can be as harmful as the disease itself, causing overdiagnosis and overtreatment, as well as the opposite. It made me think about how fear played into my own diagnosis. At our Passover celebration this year, my sister-in-law, Rhea, began by talking tearfully about my family’s gratitude for my health and how fearful they were at this time last year. It made me tear up but it was news to me – maybe I was just oblivious. Last April, when I was in the midst of intensive treatment, I remember feeling deeply satisfied that I could cook and host the Seder in our home. I…

TO WATCH MARIA DIAZ dance is to witness passion in motion. One of the Yucatán’s most influential bailaoras, Diaz began studying flamenco at 19 but didn’t dance seriously until she was in her 30s. Now, at 65, she is deeply entrenched in Tulum’s vibrant artistic community, and helps put on the Flamenco Festival every April. Flamenco is hugely popular in Mexico, the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world, with academies throughout the country. The powerful fusion of song (el cante), dance (el baile) and guitar playing (el toque) that make up flamenco is so unique that UNESCO inscribed it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. Zoomer photographed Diaz on location in Tulum, where she spends her time practising, performing and teaching her craft, holding daily classes…

Across Turtle Island, summer brings a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds and movements that signal the arrival of powwow season. These community gatherings are deeply rooted in ancient Indigenous song and dance traditions, but went through decades of suppression when our laws prohibited sacred ceremonies. Their resurgence reflects the cultural revitalization that’s happening across Canada, as Indigenous peoples reclaim, celebrate and share their unique heritage. Because they are family-friendly and open to all Canadians, Lisa Meeches, executive director of the Manito Ahbee Festival in Winnipeg, describes powwows as “icebreakers,” where visitors can gain cross-cultural understanding. “It doesn’t matter what nation you come from, powwows are an accessible way to learn more about your Indigenous neighbours,” she says. Each powwow dance carries its own significance. The Men’s Traditional, for example, embodies…

A twist on high-end, luxury book purveyor Assouline’s Chic Stays series, Secret Stays, its latest travel tome, taps into former Condé Nast Traveler editor-in-chief Melinda Stevens’ unparalleled access to unique places around the world. From art collector Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza’s ancient converted monastery on the island of Lopud in Croatia, to Count Miklos Bethlen’s Renaissance-style castle in Transylvania, to Villa Palladio in Jaipur, India (left), entirely hand-painted in brilliant reds, whites and pinks, Stevens gives us a glimpse into hidden and exclusive worlds. “What inspired the book was the fact that suddenly, previously totally inaccessible properties were opening their doors to paying guests,” says Stevens. “There’s a new accessibility, a cultural shift that, post-Airbnb, means we are suddenly in a position where we can stay in totally individual, family-owned, unique…

It’s summertime – you’re in cottage mode and so is your entertaining style. Forget the tasteful, polite floral arrangements of formal dinner parties. Instead, embrace your wild side. Today’s look is a little boho, a little boreal forest and a little cottage country, whether you’re talking botanicals in vases, rose petals in recipes, or lilac prints instead of gingham for table linens. It’s the perfect backdrop to offset your favourite seasonal fare, from straight-from-the-grill mains to bright salads and bowls of just-picked berries. The botanical buzz also reflects society’s indefatigable quest for wellness – the power in those pretty plants has, after all, been tapped for centuries. Take your aesthetic cue from interior designer Nam Dang-Mitchell. Scroll Instagram to spy her as she wedges chartreuse hydrangeas into a floral…

Tableware geeks know the iconic positions held by many traditional floral patterns in the world of fine china. These days, however, flowers are being newly discovered by fashionable foodies and decor fans, whether in the embrace of historical or new patterns from Royal Doulton, Spode, Portmeirion and Royal Albert. Venerable Wedgwood has also been breathing life into its floral tableware portfolio, with new patterns that look powered by a dose of Miracle-Gro. Their exceptional Wonderlust collection features dramatic, archive-inspired designs of peony blossoms and playful monkeys, flora and fauna of Kathmandu, or golden parrots perched on azure flowers. Talk about giving tradition a twist! At their best, the latest floral patterns are modern yet ro-mantic. Mixing and matching patterns, whether vintage, new or a combination of the two, likewise…