'High Society'

The sprawling estate of the Villa Impero required an uphill climb up a long cobblestone road – not an easy task in Stella McCartney heels. But the hike was only the beginning of what became a crowd brewing event worth much toe-pinching.

Marquis Mazzacorati commissioned the building of Villa Impero in the early 19th century as a popular spot for parties and ceremonies. Several hundred years later, the neoclassical villa is used for housing contemporary visual arts exhibitions.

The ninth annual Yoox party at Villa Impero was a celebration of fashion, art, music and design – the company is responsible for online brands Valentino, Emporio Armani, Emilio Pucci and recently launched D&G.

The lush forest behind the villa featured a photography exhibit from Yoox’s many fashion photographers. A concert stage erected to the far right, behind the canopied tables with wine and hors d’oeuvres, eventually gave way to performances by German group Chicks on Speed and DJ Spin.

Not particularly striking was the outside view of the villa itself, which I learned was due to recent renovations. A quick glance at the central back doors, which open unto a greenhouse-like patio, confirms this.

Yet the décor inside, especially the central hall where guests first mingled, is covered in frescoes by Gaetano Civoli. The paintings are lavish, mostly landscapes typical of the Bolognese school from that century. Ornate and harmonious, my eyes followed the frescoes up towards the ceiling. The second floor wrapped around the length of the central hall, with its series of connecting rooms.

Despite the humidity, the villa did hold up to a large crowd of fashionistas and executives who arrived on time for introductions and a video showing. The doors to the back opened just in time for the popping of vino blanco bottles and the serving of couscous imbedded chips.

“Oi, come stai?” fashion buyer Giorgio called out to me, wearing a cream-colored linen jacket.

“Non, c’e male,” I said. I looked over at a crowd of Italians laughing and drinking mojitos. “You know, you Italians know how to throw a party.”

Giorgio smiled. And I headed in the direction of a waving Martina, a friend and colleague who appeared taller, more elegant and bronzed than usual.

-S. Gonzalez

'Gray Matter'

The gray building known as the AC Hotel in Bologna looms over the tennis courts in front of it, casting an ominous shadow over terracotta rooftops. It may not compliment the architecture of this medieval city, but it is one of Bologna’s most modern and luxurious hotels.

I got word only a few weeks ago that I would be traveling to Bologna again, my second time in the last six months, to attend an annual party. Complete with live music, food, wine, art and fashion, the 10-hour bash would take place at the Impero Villa.

I imagined that I would spend my short stay in a hotel typical of most European cities: a small accommodation with paper thin walls, classic fixtures and a narrow staircase in place of an elevator.

But AC Hotel was different.

New, urban and cosmopolitan is at the heart of the hotel chain’s mission. With locations in Spain, Italy and Portugal, AC Hotels redefines luxury with its state of the art services and rooms designed for comfort.

I held my breath as I swiped the room door open with the key card.

Soft. Inviting. Modern. A cream curtain covered the length of a wall with windows, filtering only soft light into the room. A minimalist black chair with foot stool and a longer black stool for my luggage were the other pieces of furniture in addition to the bed. An ample-sized closet opened with the pull of a sliding door.

Eco-friendly. The lights and power in the room needed the key card to be inserted through a slot by the door in order to activate. Without the key card, all electric powered fixtures would turn off after five minutes or so. While the idea is not altogether new for most European buildings, the feature was helpful in lighting the room when entering into the bedroom at night.

Sleek. Chic. A sink made completely of glass allowed me to stare at the dark hardwood floors of the bathroom as I watched my hands. The bathroom “curtain” was a thick panel of glass that extended halfway across the tub. A directional shower, complimentary soaps and toothbrushes were thoughtful touches.

Making my way to the exercise room on the top floor and later to the ground floor restaurant, I had no idea what else was in store on this business trip.

To be continued...

-S. Gonzalez