FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 10, 2022 • THE QUEENS COURIER 51
Victoria’s
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
vschneps@schnepsmedia.com
I feel like a journeyman,
fl ying from Palm
Beach to Orlando, to
Seattle, and then back to
Palm Beach to oversee our
newest publication, Dan’s
Papers Palm Beach.
Each leg of the trip was fi lled
with memories for a lifetime.
As I returned to southern
Florida via Alaska Air, my mind
was fi lled with the images of the
genius Dale Chihuly’s paintings
and glass sculptures. I met the
“master” in his Boathouse workrooms
thanks to a trip organized
by Rabbi Marc Schneier.
But let me go back in time.
Last summer, Mona Sterling
and her husband David Sterling
announced to the Hampton
Synagogue congregation that
their family had purchased the
block across the street from the
synagogue on Sunrise Avenue
and planned to endow a children’s
campus in memory of her
dad Jack Gora.
It is named Jack’s House and
will include the Barnet Family
Children’s Chapel, a gift from
Michelle and Stephen Barnet.
Jack’s House will also include
a pool, a basketball court, a soft -
ball fi eld and a Mikveh, ritual
bath prescribed by ancient
Jewish law for the rite of purifi
cation. A day camp for 2-, 3-,
and 4-year-olds will be launched
this summer.
Let’s get back to the chapel.
Rabbi Marc, along with Board
President Carol Levin, collaborated
with the Gora family
to design a building with
750-square-feet of glass on the
front facade. With the help of
Rabbi Marc’s mother, art dealer
Donna Schneier, who knew
the great Chihuly, the idea was
An extraordinary experience with a genius
born to have him design and
install the unique windows in
the new chapel.
Chihuly glass installations will
include 36 “windows” and an
eternal light that will be installed
at the end of April. Th e summer
of 2023 will see the installation
of Chihuly’s glass menorah and
the fi rst Holocaust memorial in
the Hamptons — all created and
designed by Chihuly for the fi rst
and only synagogue project of
his illustrious career.
What an addition to the village
of Westhampton Beach!
An added bonus for me was
the opportunity to meet the
master himself in Seattle. Long
an admirer of his colorful creations,
I jumped at the opportunity
to meet a living legend.
And so, I was off on a threeday
visit with other members
of the congregation. I
fl ew from Orlando aft er a funfi
lled week with my children to
Seattle, where I stayed at the
Maxwell Hotel. It’s a division
of the Staypineapple Hotels
owned by Michelle and Stephen
Barnet, who are also members
of the Hamptons Synagogue
and endowed the new children’s
chapel.
Th e dynamic couple won my
respect and admiration — not
just for their outstanding hospitality
but also for their devotion
to the synagogue on the
East Coast, where they maintain
homes in Westhampton,
Manhattan and Palm Beach,
three areas that I refer to
as the “golden triangle,”
where Dan’s Papers are
distributed.
I had never experienced
a Staypineapple
hotel, which I found
out was named that
because, as a kid,
Michelle’s siblings made
fun of her blonde tresses
piled up on her head,
which they said made her
look like a pineapple!
She never forgot that and
chose to use it as the name of the
company she founded and now
runs with her husband.
I’ve traveled around the world
and I’ve never received such
hospitality!
As I entered my room, awaiting
me was unique down and
feather bedding and an embroidered
pillow with the words,
“Sleep With Me,” written on
it. Greeting me were two
stuff ed doggies, because the
hotel is dog-friendly!
Th e yellow silk and terry
robes were lush around my
body, as were the thick and
fl uff y large towels.
As with any hotel, the biggest
factor is service. I am
pleased to say that the hotel
gets 5 stars for that!
From the 5 a.m. bellhop getting
my bags, to the helpfulness
of the concierges at the front
desk, to the manager who saved
my day by getting me a piece
of luggage (with their pineapple
theme) to relieve my large piece
of luggage that I had an overweight
charge of $100 — the staff
was truly remarkable!
Th e Barnets also own hotels
in San Francisco, San Diego,
Portland, Boston, Chicago
and the Chelsea section of
Manhattan. Look out for their
brand!
As our tour bus pulled up to
the Boathouse where Chihuly’s
masterpieces are created, I was
fi lled with excitement to see the
windows the “master” created
for Jack’s House and the Barnet
Family Children’s Chapel.
Th ere before me were large
luminous glass fl owers adhered
to a mockup of the wall where
the windows will be installed.
I was struck by its beauty and
felt tears well up in my eyes as
I saw the glass fl owers and the
Chihuly-designed eternal light
which will be part of my community
in Westhampton Beach.
We were all sworn to secrecy
with our embargoed photos
because the formal installation
is in late spring and the offi cial
dedication on July 3 must have a
majestic unveiling!
We had poached salmon lunch
with Dale and his passionate and
powerful CEO and wife Leslie
Jackson Chihuly overlooking
the waterfront. Th e 88-foot dining
room table is made entirely
from a tree trunk that has been
reclaimed and restored.
Hanging over the stunning
table were deep, rich-colored
and enormous glass Chihuly
chandeliers, one aft er another.
Th e beauty of the scene took my
breath away!
Th e real treat was sitting across
the table from Dale.
We chatted and talked
about his future plans
now that he’s 80. To my
delight, he told me he
has many projects in
the works!
He’s taken up painting
and oversees —
and still designs — his
glass projects worldwide.
Some installations,
like the one
recently unveiled at the New
York Botanical Garden, and sales
to private clients purchases still
get his approval.
I think of myself as a “colorful”
person, so I think Dale’s use
of color ignites my soul. Meeting
him and seeing his work was
worth the journey!
Reconnecting with friends
Carol and Jerry Levin, Sandy
and Stewart Cahn, Mona and
David Sterling, Tovah
Feldshuh, Patti Kenner,
Donna Schneier and
Michelle and Stephen
Barnet off ered all the fun of
a “camp” reunion! We shared
the precious hours with Dale
and created memories that
will be remembered forever!
We later visited Dale’s
museum, Chihuly Garden
and Glass, as well as the
Space Needle, where I got a
sky high view of the city. We also
stopped by the Frank Gehrydesigned
Museum of Pop
Culture!
But nothing compared to seeing
the creative genius Dale
Chihuly and his work!
Donna, Marc and
Brendan Schneier
With Carol Levin at Chihuly Garden and Glass
Patti Kenner with the Chihulys.
Tovah Feldshuh
with the “master.”
Chapel donors
Michelle and
Stephen Barnet
with Dale
David and Mona
Sterling (c.) with
Leslie Jackson Chihuly
(l.) and Dale.
Dale’s 88-foot table
and classic glass
chandeliers!
Jenny Shliozberg, Ann Neuman and
Sandy Cahn atop the Space Needle.
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