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With its Champagne brunch and items for sale from favorite boutiques, the Beauty of Life fundraiser for Hospice Austin is one of the city’s most popular annual charity events. But the fundraiser, which took place last month, has a dramatic second half: Beauty Unveiled, a seated dinner and party on November 13 that is the brain- child of beloved local jewelry designer Nak Armstrong.

As creative director of Beauty Unveiled, Armstrong is excited for the possibility

clockwise: Designer Nak Armstrong;

sought-after for their intricate designs and precious stones, his

jewelry is also helping to raise funds for

Hospice Austin.

The Beauty of GivingCFDA AWARD–WINNING JEWELRY DESIGNER NAK ARMSTRONG PLANS AN INNOVATIVE NIGHT FOR HOSPICE AUSTIN. BY JANE KELLOGG MURRAY

of helping Hospice Austin even more than he did last year with this event at Brazos Hall. He is planning an elegant seated dinner for 86 people (sold out), followed by an afterparty for 200 ($150 per ticket) that includes a performance by the group Goodbyemotel, which the Australian band bills as a “4-D experience.”

Beauty Unveiled is actually based on a similar event Armstrong did last year during Tribeza Style Week, during which all

events raised money for Hospice Austin. This year, Armstrong wanted to strip away the third-party element and donate all proceeds directly to Hospice, with a goal of raising $100,000 for the organization.

“I wanted to create an event that felt truly like a New York fashion event. Obviously, not an actual New York event, but one that rises to that level—where people go and say, ‘Wow, that’s a place I want to be’—because it’s an experience,” Armstrong says.

“I felt like last year we really achieved that. Now that it’s [solely] a Hospice Austin event, we have a much greater responsibility in terms of raising more money for the charity and also in making the event that much more spectacular.”

Beauty of Life, which this year featured best-selling author Mitch Albom, is Hospice Austin’s signature fundraiser (netting an impressive $277,568 in 2013). But that’s only a fraction of what Austin’s only nonprofit hospice care provider actually needs; Hospice Austin spent $2.4 million in 2013 in charity care to provide for terminally ill patients lacking insurance or Medicare. “We have a strong need to reach a greater audience of support,” says Hospice Austin Development Director Robin Clemons.

“Beauty of Life has its

own legacy,” Armstrong says. “So many people are excited to come [to Beauty Unveiled] because they were there last year, or they heard about it, and they know the kind of event we are now capable of hosting.”

Armstrong initially rose to fame as part of the design duo Anthony Nak, which won the esteemed Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) award for accesso-ries design in 2005. He launched his eponymous collection in 2011; from his South Congress studio, Armstrong sells his precious jewel work internationally and nationally, including at Barney’s and locally at By George. By George, 524 N. Lamar Blvd., 512-472-5951; bygeorgeaustin.com; nakarmstrong.com AW

INSIGHT

EvEnt: Beauty UnveiledWhat: A cocktail party and seated dinner, followed by an afterparty and concertWhEn: November 13, cocktail party at 6:30 pm, dinner at 7:30 pm (sold out), afterparty at 9 pm

WhErE: Brazos Hall, 204 E. 4th St.ContaCt: hospiceaustin.org

40  AUSTINWAY.com

style style of Generosity

AT A PRIVATE, invitation-only event at Austin’s renowned Hotel

Saint Cecilia on September 19, Tudor Watches and Austin Way

celebrated the Tudor United SportsCar Championship with 40 VIPs.

The group included watch and automotive enthusiasts, such as

drivers Scott Pruett, Jordan Taylor, and Ricky Taylor. An intimate

cocktail reception was followed by a delectable three-course meal to

commemorate the weekend’s races at Austin’s inaugural Lone Star

LeMans at Circuit of the Americas.

TUDOR UNITED

SPORTSCAR

CHAMPIONSHIP

Gabriela Anastasio and Russel Kelly

Michael Hopper and Daniel Jordan

Hank and Monika Korman, Paul Lee, and Amy Ling

Molly and Ben Blakeman

Jade Divenuta and Ben Simon

Dave Lobb and Michael Williams

joseluissalon.comjoseluisboutique.com joseluisagency.com

(Salon & Boutique)

Lamar Union

1100 S. Lamar #2135

Opening Early 2015

(Salon)

Hartland Plaza

1717 W. 6th Street #123

512.474.1146

jose luis salon: jose buitron (hair) sara dale (makeup) | photography: john conroy

CLOSE TO ALL THE ACTION

compiled by kristen o’brien

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the man to know

JASON DIAL

THE PArTy TrACk Feel like a winner at these fêtes, where the stars, Champagne,

and music are abundant.

Amber LoungeThe original “Made in Monaco” party thrown at F1 race locations around the globe, Amber Lounge (above) is the best-known and longest-running F1 afterparty, a glorious whirl of fashion, fine dining, and celebrities. Stars seen last year in Austin included Alex Pettyfer, Adrian Grenier, Matt LeBlanc, and Gerard Butler. Hot tip: Sunday night (November 2) is the big blowout as drivers, team principals, sponsors, and other heavy-hitters finally get to let off some steam. November 1 and 2, 10:30 pm–4 am. La Zona Rosa, 612 W. 4th St., 512-263-4146; for tickets and pricing: (+377) 97-77-16-34, austin@amber-lounge.com; amber-lounge.com

bLu At the W The locally owned party now in its third year is showing the world what “Austin-meets-F1” is all about. Located on the second floor of the W Austin hotel, the scene is packed with locals as well as the international set. This year includes a carnival and Full Tilt Fashion Show. Past celebrants are Chef Gordon Ramsay, Carlos Slim, Alexander Rossi, and Enrique Iglesias. October 31 and November 1, 8 pm–4 am. W Austin, 200 Lavaca St.; for tickets and pricing: 512-895-9533, ginger @formulavipevents.com; bluatthew.com

my yAcht cLubThe Monaco-style nightclub, hosted in Monte Carlo annually on a $30 million yacht, is produced at Ballet Austin by

British twin brother-and-sister team Nicholas and Annabelle Frankl, founders of My Yacht Group. This year Ballet Austin will receive benefits in support of its Night of Community Program, and international DJ Alex Karlsson will return. Ballet Austin Executive Director Cookie Ruiz—a racing enthusiast herself—welcomes MYC revelers like Rick Yune, John Paul and Eloise DeJoria, Nichole Galicia, Nico Hülkenberg, Vitaly Petrov, and Jared Padalecki through Ballet Austin’s doors. October 31 and November 1, 10 pm–4 am. Ballet Austin, 501 W. Third St.; for tickets and pricing: 858-848-9125, info@myyachtclub.com; myyachtclub.com FerrAri FêteAt this party on the DL, the address remains a mystery and guests receive word only a few days before. Past parties included one held at a ranch outside of Austin, with dinner prepared by top chefs such as David Bull of Congress, cigar-rolling stations, and surprise guests such as Steve Martin, who was flown in for the night.

other contendersSeasoned F1 partiers also know to look out for details on the British Consulate General’s Great British Garden Party; the Infiniti Red Bull Party; the Sunday night Porsche party; Blu at Acquavilla, held at a private residence on Lake Travis; and an annual hidden pop-up party (by invitation only; e-mail events@mineralsociety.com for information).

02

The CEO of Circuit of the Americas lives for this time of year. You’ll find him talking to visitors from all over the world

to hear their stories and discover why they chose to come to Formula One here. And he

won’t just be near the track; his race week agenda includes

dinner parties, Fan Fest, and, of course, the Duran Duran

concert at ACL Live. Dial, who once had dreams of being an

NFL linebacker, revealed some F1 insights we all can use.

What is your favorite view of the race?

Jason dial: “We have so many great

views, it is hard to pick just one, so

my three favorites are:

1. Turn 1: It’s iconic as it elevates

133 feet. Fans see the cars racing

down the front stretch with immense

anticipation to see if the drivers

successfully maneuver that techni-

cally challenging turn before racing

downhill into the esses. From Turn 1,

they can also see other areas of the

track, which provide nonstop action.

2. Turn 15: Drivers reach top speeds

after Turn 11 on the long back-

stretch coming into another

incredibly challenging tight Turn 12,

along with multiple turns through

Turn 15—all right in front of the

fans. There is breathtaking action in

this part of the circuit.

T HE ULT IM AT E GUIDE T O F1

The Paddock Club at COTA is F1’s

primary hospitality offering and where

one rubs shoulders with the racing

elite and dignitaries from around the

world. F1 takes over the entire area

above the pit lane and team garages

and turns it into an ultra-high-end

hospitality and race-viewing area. The

Paddock Club also grants you access

to the pit lane, which is the heart and

soul of the race. The food, drink, and

service are all top-class; the staff of

The Paddock Club travels to all the

races on the F1 calendar, so it remains

at a consistently high level. A

three-day Paddock Club pass that

includes four-course dining and fine

wines, a Mumm Champagne bar, pit

lane walks, driver interviews, and VIP

parking will usually run about $4,980

for three days per person. Other

options include the VIP Trackside

Skybox, which starts at $1,899 for all

three days. Skybox has views of the

starting line, all the action at the pit,

and the battle for pole position as well

as the 133-foot climb up to Turn 1. Find

ultimate Grand Prix Formula One

packages at usstarevents.com;

suitepass.com; amber-lounge.com;

cotaexperiences.com

92  AUSTINWAY.com

where the champagne flowsDuring Formula One, consumption of bubbly is at an all-time high.

04

05

3. Grand Plaza: It is “party central,”

where we have fun festival elements

programmed (music, themed

interactive zones for kids and adults,

and lots of food and drink options)

and great views of Turn 1, Turns 16

to 19, and leading into Turn 20.

How would you like to get

Austinites more engaged in the F1

US Grand Prix experience? For

those Austinites who have not

joined us in the past, I invite them

to come this year. They don’t have

to be a motorsports fan to have a

great time. We program the

weekend activities to be entertain-

ing for the entire family… We want

to continue to grow this into one of

the best sports experiences in the

world. We are consistently ranked in

the top three in Formula One

experiences. We were named

“Sports Event of the Year” in 2013

and a finalist for “Sports Facility of

the Year” in 2014 by Sports

Business Journal, so we are off to a

great start, but we need Austinites’

support to continue to grow.

What makes the Austin edition

different than other F1 experiences?

Our phenomenal racing circuit, with

its iconic Turn 1 and unparalleled

views of the track—along with our

award-winning venue (Austin360

Amphitheater) and the festival

elements we program—combine

beautifully with Texas’s reputation of

big hospitality and Austin’s love of

music. It makes for an authentic,

uniquely Austin and American

experience. We also boast one of the

most active and friendly cities in

the world in which to host our free Fan

Fest. It is held downtown, Friday

through Sunday race weekend,

providing another incredible opportu-

nity for us to introduce F1 fans to

Austin and Austin to F1.

➻ g.h. mumm is the official Champagne of Formula One and is used to douse the

winning drivers during their celebration on the podium.

➻ Blu at the w went through about 25 cases (or 300 bottles)

of the premium bubbly last year.

➻ amBer lounge opened more than 600 bottles over the weekend in 2013.

➻ my yacht cluB consumed approximately $300,000 worth of Champagne

last year at Ballet Austin.

➻ at Ballet austin this year, you can win a limited-edition Comte de

Mazeray 24k gold-leaf-wrapped Methuselah—six liters of Champagne, valued at

$20,000—by participating in the My Yacht Club party’s Halloween costume contest.

The Music eleMenTlegends of pop, rock, and hip-hop will entertain Austin crowds on F1 weekend.

Now in its third year, Formula One has quickly become ingrained into the fabric of Austin. Naturally, the Live Music Capital of the World had to inject some music into this inter-national racing event and make it the city’s own. Some of the musical highlights this year include ’80s British pop legends Duran Duran (above left); American hip-hop trio De La Soul; rock, blues, and rap megastar Kid Rock; and the queen of rock ’n’ roll herself, Joan Jett, and the Blackhearts (above right). “I’ve always had a great time in Austin—and remember, I’ve played in Austin since the Runaways, in the ’70s,” Jett says. “It’s always a great show in Austin because the people are so into the music scene

in general.” (Read our exclusive interview with Joan Jett at austinway.com.) Jett headlines COTA’s Fan Fest at Republic Square Park downtown, which is free and open to the pub-lic all weekend and includes additional performances from Bobby Patterson & The Disciples, Texas Tornadoes, Grupo Fantasma, Black Joe Lewis, and more. Duran Duran, part of COTA’s Fan Fest VIP Experience, plays at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on Saturday night. Tickets start at $325. And finally: Kid Rock caps off the weekend by perform-ing Sunday night post-race at COTA’s adjacent Austin360 Amphitheater—the concert is included in the cost of admission. circuitoftheamericas.com/cotafanfest

04

AUSTINWAY.com  93

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the concierge to call

CALEB CAMPAIGNE

WHERE THE DRIVERS AREThe drivers generally start arriving the Tuesday and Wednesday before race day. The top-tier teams stay at the W and Four Seasons, while second-tier teams can be found at the Hyatt or Hilton and other downtown hotels. Drivers are coming from all over the world, and when they come to Texas, well, they like to find Texas things

to do. Here are a few of their favorite things:

Shopping: Prices for designer goods are much cheaper in the US than any of the other Grand Prix locations around the world, so international visitors, F1 drivers, and their well-heeled significant others head to stores like Tiffany & Co. and Polo Ralph Lauren at The Domain (11410 Century Oaks Terrace, 512-873-8099; thedomainaustin.com) and Nordstrom at Barton Creek Square (2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512-327-7040; bartoncreeksquare.com) for the season’s latest. They also get a kick out of Texas fashions, snatching up luxe cowboy footwear at Allen’s Boots (1522 S. Congress Ave., 512-447-1413; allensboots.com) or heritage Boot (1200 S. Congress Ave., 512-326-8577; heritageboot.com).

Being TouriSTS: The mechanical bull is in constant rotation at downtown watering hole rowdy’s Saloon (305 W. 5th St., 512-472-5288; rowdyssaloon.com), and pete’s Dueling piano Bar (shown above, 421 E. 6th St., 512-472-7383; petesdueling pianobar.com) hosts a competition of a different sort. Racers get double use out of their protective ear wear when they migrate to

eagle peak Shooting range (20026 Lindeman Lane, Leander, 512-267-1400; eaglepeakshooting range.com) and fire off a few rounds. And this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning The Yellow rose (6528 N. Lamar Blvd., 512-458-2106; yellowroseaustin.com); the infamous gentlemen’s club draws in pleasure-seekers with its promise of anonymity and Texas beauties.

SAmpling TexAS FlAvorS: Drivers—like the rest of our city’s tourists—often seek out barbecue to get them through the weekend. Many will follow their nose on a 30-minute-plus drive from the Circuit of the Americas track to The Salt lick in the Hill Country (18300 FM Road 1826, Driftwood, 512-858-4959; saltlickbbq.com), while reservations at fancy barbecue joint lamberts (401 W. 2nd St., 512-494-1500; lamberts austin.com) downtown have been known to fill up quickly during F1. In previous years, racers have been spotted grabbing a hearty brunch at red’s porch (3508 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-440-7337; redsporch.com), Searsucker (415 Colorado St., 512-394-8000; searsucker.com), and Trace (W Austin, 200 Lavaca St., 512-542-3660; traceaustin.com).

With the official title at the W

Austin of “W Insider,” Caleb

Campaigne is part of the team

of W concierges whose motto

is “Whatever, Whenever,”

and his job is to arrange

exclusive experiences for

guests. Besides informing

them where to be seen in

Austin during F1 weekend, he

may be called on to pick up F1

drivers, which he finds ironic.

“I’m the worst driver ever,

and then I have to pick up

someone who makes a living

driving well,” he jokes. He’s

also been known to arrange

private dance parties in the W

Secret Bar for “huge rock

legends.” What is he looking

forward to this year? “Fan Fest

has a better lineup than ever:

Joan Jett, Texas Tornados, De

La Soul, and Conjunto Los

Pinkys,” he says, adding, “I

am a huge Nile Rodgers fan

and love Duran Duran, so I’m

excited about Duran Duran’s

ACL Live at the Moody

Theater show.” W Austin, 200

Lavaca St., 512-542-3600;

whotelaustin.com

T HE ULT IM AT E GUIDE T O F1

06

drivers to watchAustin Way consulted a team of experts for insight into the top racers’ styles and to predict their odds of winning.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team driver has been locked in a tight

battle with teammate Nico Rosberg all

season. A fast and daring driver,

Hamilton, 29, looks poised to add another championship to his 2008 world title; he won the inaugural US Grand Prix in

Austin in 2012.

Lewis HamiLton

One of the most successful F1 drivers of all time, Vettel, 27, has won each of the

past four world championships. The

German has struggled this season to come to grips with

a new car, but he’s still a fan favorite.

This will be his last season with Infiniti Red Bull Racing.

sebastian VetteL

The only American currently in Formula One, the 23-year-old

California native unfortunately has yet to compete in a race.

Rossi is a test and reserve driver for the

Russian-backed Marussia F1 Team and is expected to

participate in the first practice session of

the US Grand Prix, while driving for the Caterham F1 Team.

aLexander rossi

The 25-year-old Australian joined Infiniti Red Bull

Racing this season and has made the most of the move: racking up several

victories and winning over fans with an

ever-present smile. Calculating and

precise while in a car, Ricciardo is equally

enthusiastic and friendly outside of it.

danieL ricciardo

The German-born Rosberg, 29, who is

teammates with Lewis Hamilton, has driven for Mercedes AMG Petronas F1

team since 2010. But the soft-spoken and

quick driver has had a breakout season this

year, winning multiple races

and often qualifying on pole.

nico rosberg

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico (400 miles south of Austin),

Perez, 24, always has a large contingent of Mexican fans cheer for him at COTA. “Checo,” as he is

known, has appeared to remain positive

despite a disappoint-ing season driving

for the Sahara Force India F1 Team.

sergio PÉrez

“As a venue, Circuit of the Americas is world-class when it

comes to road racing. This is something that unfortunately has been lacking in the United States,

but it’s here now. It’s what we needed here. This space can offer so much—look how successful the

X Games were. It’s a charming city, and the hospitality has been tremendous. It’s a great marriage

with this event.”

—Driving legend Mario Andretti, official ambassador of COTA and the Formula One US Grand Prix

09COTAlove

THE SWEETEST RIDES

At Motostalgia at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, car lovers can bid on some of the most beautiful vehicles ever made. In addition to a gala event on October 31, discerning car collectors can bid on about 80 of the rarest and finest automobiles in the world, including a 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, a 1972 Citroen SM, and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL. October 31, Ladies Vintage Chapeau Day, 11 am–4 pm. Vintage Theme Gala, 6–11 pm. November 1, Collector Car Auction, 2 pm. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr.; for registration and pricing contact Motostalgia, 512-813-0636; motostalgia.com

A 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta—similar to the one France’s former Prime Minister Francois Fillon drove during the Le Mans race this past July—will be auctioned off at Motostalgia.

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MORE THAN 300 Keller Williams Realtors from across the country

gathered for an intimate cocktail hour on the patio of Portfolio Real

Estate on September 16. Beautifully strung lights and gorgeous floral

arrangements by David Kurio Designs set the scene for hours of mingling

among some of the top real estate agents in America. Guests enjoyed

scrumptious appetizers provided by Terry Black’s Barbecue and sipped

on a specially concocted adult lemonade created by Enchanted Rock

Vodka, as an acoustic guitarist added to the ambience of the evening.

KELLER WILLIAMS/AUSTIN PORTFOLIO REAL ESTATE COCKTAIL HOUR

Kate Wilkes and Deanne Motsenbocker

Jacquelyn Einaugler and Denise Sasser

Eric Copper, Jessica Docasar, and Bill Wilson

Trey Pike, Carla Umlauf, and Mark Moore

Jan Busse and Liz Newell

Kristen Williams, Mona Crum, and Dani Schlesinger

INVITED

140-143_AW_BOB_Invited_NOV/DEC14.indd 142 11/3/14 5:03 PM142_AW_NOVDEC14_R2.indd 1 11/3/14 3:33 PM