From the Publisher
BY ANN PARENTI
It feels like the world is in some odd supercharged energy field right now. I can’t explain it, but I can certainly feel it! I am experiencing it daily in so many areas of my life. I am pretty sure I am not alone in this feeling. At this writing, we are about to soar into 2022, and we pulled out all stops this time to bring you some intriguing stories.
We have the multi-talented Debbie Gibson as our cover for this edition, and she exemplifies what can happen when you have immense talent and business acumen. She is a true role model for future generations of female performers. It was such a delight and honor to have her grace our cover.
Then we whisk you off to London for the latest fashion experience presenting the trends for the next season, which Mark Gunther had the opportunity to shoot. Then he and his camera traveled to Los Angeles’ Fashion Week for more fashion extravaganzas! We also share David Tupaz’s article featuring Jaime Lin’s photography of Anna Gupta, model, designer, and stylist. We even feature Debbie Gibson in David’s couture, where you can read about the charming way they met.
We continue our travels as the compass directs us to wine country. We learned the history of the fascinating Sta. Rita Hills wine region of California. Not traveling too far, we brought you the inside scoop on one of the newest restaurants in Las Vegas, located inside the Circa Hotel with some of the best culinary delights around. Check out Barry’s Downtown Prime the next time you are in the city. Next, we take you on an extensive tour de force of beautiful restaurants, shops, spas, a popular wedding destination, and even office space in the beautiful Lakeside Village of Desert Shores.
You ask, what more can we offer? Hold on then because there are two extraordinary artists to discover. You will truly be inspired when you see the stunning art of the delightful Beti Kristof and the remarkable James Stanford. Simply WOW!
Learn about what it takes to make a dream come true when you have true faith in what you do. We interviewed the powerhouse, Wanda Luna of Universal Furniture. Then we went behind the scenes to hear the story of MZA. Mitch Zerg is a representative of hospitality products, and you will read his account of what it is like to be in a business that he was born to be in.
We can’t forget about local entertainment! After all, we are the entertainment capital of the world! We got up close to witness the very talented Chas Brown in action, and we will let the photos speak for themselves. As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.
In closing, I personally offered a story of hope in a long and winding road sort of way. Many people have quizzed me about how I got into this crazy business; well, you are about to find out. We all have people who come and go out of our lives and a few who make a lasting impact and stay your friends for a lifetime. With that said, I like to think that Joan Peck is one of them. She always has my back, and she was part of the dream team of the project I will speak about in my Hope column. Then there is Jake Naylor, who makes everything look so stunning. From the website to social media posts to the layout of Chic Compass, he is the wizard behind the curtain. He also was a part of the original project mentioned in the column. What can I say about David Tupaz? Without his crazy mad talent and ideas, Chic Compass would not have the breathtakingly beautiful fashion shoots that we have. Let’s just say that David knows many talented people, too. There are no words to even convey what I can say about my dedicated board of directors for the FSF foundation that you will also learn about. They are indeed a part of my family and always will be. My extended family of writers and photographers of Chic Compass that deliver exceptional work every time they are tasked are in my heart forever. If you happen to be lucky enough even to find one or two friends, as I have mentioned above, then you, too, are truly blessed.
To our treasured readers, welcome to 2022! I wish all of you a very happy year ahead, and thank you for following our compass as we take you to more chic and fabulous places this coming year!