Jonathan Soroff
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Writer...Narcissist...Name-dropper...and One-Man Mardi Gras! Oh, and contributing editor at Boston Magazine
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Articles by Jonathan Soroff
Pulling Ahead
BOOKING A SKI TRIP this winter? Not all the thrills are on downhill slopes, thanks to the growing popularity of skijoring. Born from traditional Scandinavian snow-traversing methods, the sport involves a skier being pulled by a horse, a dog, or even a snowmobile. “When I started my job, there were maybe eight to 10 competitions in the U.S. and Canada,” says Loren Zhimanskova, founder and president of Skijor USA, which oversees events across the country. “This year, I think there may be 50.
A Positive Influence
Jill Kargman’s latest movie,Influenced,hits the big screen Written by Jonathan Soroff Photography by Kit Noble and courtesy of Jill Kargman Lifelong Nantucket summer resident Jill Kargman is known for skewering the rich and entitled in books and on television. Now, her debut feature film, Influenced, is enjoying a limited theatrical release and will be available for streaming on Amazon and Apple TV this September.
There’s an Etiquette to a Surprise Wedding
The term “surprise wedding” is often used to describe some celebrity getting hitched on the down-low and then casually mentioning it a few months later on a talk show. In a true surprise wedding, though, either none of the guests know there’s going to be a wedding (or, if they do, they know nothing about the venue, ceremony, or other details). The appeal is obvious. There’s far less prewedding aggravation, and it stanches the hemorrhaging of cash to the Wedding Industrial Complex.
7 Private Islands in the Caribbean That Are Worth the Buyout
7 hours ago 9 Destinations You Should Not Visit In 2025, According To Travel Experts As 2024 winds down, it's only right to look ahead to 2025 for your next adventure. With that comes two sides of the same coin – where to go and where … 1 day ago 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Bar Offers Immersive Lounge Experience If there is one thing that Disney Cruise Line does best is its themed and immersive lounges! 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is getting the love it …
7 Private Islands in the Caribbean That Are Worth the Buyout
Nothing is better to visit and nothing is worse to own than a private island. Fortunately, there are plenty of them to rent in the Caribbean, which obviates the hassles of ownership—think Richard Branson riding out Hurricane Irma on Necker, the island he bought for $180,000 in 1979. But not all private islands are created equal and, ironically, the more private they are, the more hassle it often is to rent them.
7 Private Islands in the Caribbean That Are Worth the Buyout
Nothing is better to visit and nothing is worse to own than a private island. Fortunately, there are plenty of them to rent in the Caribbean, which obviates the hassles of ownership—think Richard Branson riding out Hurricane Irma on Necker, the island he bought for $180,000 in 1979. But not all private islands are created equal and, ironically, the more private they are, the more hassle it often is to rent them.
7 Private Islands in the Caribbean That Are Worth the Buyout
Generate Key Takeaways Nothing is better to visit and nothing is worse to own than a private island. Fortunately, there are plenty of them to rent in the Caribbean, which obviates the hassles of ownership—think Richard Branson riding out Hurricane Irma on Necker, the island he bought for $180,000 in 1979. But not all private islands are created equal and, ironically, the more private they are, the more hassle it often is to rent them.
Exclusive Malibu Colony Beachhouse Designed by Saffron Case – Offered at $24,995,000
$24,995,000 6731 Lot Size Acres Mike Cunningham Agent Name 10-16-2024 Listing Date Nestled within the exclusive and historically rich Malibu Colony community, this newly designed beach-front house “Colony 88” by Saffron Case offers unparalleled luxury and privacy. Situated in a gated enclave with 24-hour security, this property spans 4,857 square feet across two levels, including a main house with three bedrooms and a detached guesthouse with an additional bedroom.
This New Airline Start-Up Aims to Shake Up the Friendly Skies With Bigger, More Lavish Planes Original
“Bold” is an adjective that fit Sir Richard Branson when he started Virgin Atlantic in 1984. According to critics at the time, “delusional” also described his attempt to challenge long-established transatlantic carriers with a small, scrappy start-up based on superior service and in-flight fun.
This New Airline Start-Up Aims to Shake Up the Friendly Skies With Bigger, More Lavish Planes
Enraged male captain locks female co-pilot out of cockpit during 10-hour flight What a cockpit-block. An airplane captain has been suspended for locking his female co-pilot out of the flight deck because she went to the bathroom …
10 Things Even the Best Hotels in the World Get Wrong Original
Published on February 8, 2024 Dimensions/Getty Images There’s lots to love about five-star hotels—attentive service, beautiful design, comfy beds, and thoughtful amenities—but there’s also a lot at stake. I once stayed at a top hotel in Rio where the manager lied to my face about the air-conditioning in my room not working. Then there was the exorbitantly expensive beachfront resort in Puerto Rico where the same deflated beach toy stayed on the garden path for the entirety of my stay.
Forget Umbrella Drinks. This Luxe Mexican Resort Lets You Tour Ancient Archeological Sites During Your Stay.
11 hours ago Making taco seasoning from scratch guarantees a fresher flavor than store-bought mixes—one that you can adjust to your tastes. Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez While I’m not dedicated to Taco Tuesday on a weekly basis, every now and then, a homemade taco hits the spot, especially when I need a …
Forget Umbrella Drinks. This Luxe Mexican Resort Lets You Tour Ancient Archeological Sites During Your Stay. Original
Published on July 25, 2023 For most, the Riviera Maya is about palm-fringed beaches with free-flowing tequila cocktails. But at Etéreo, an Auberge resort that opened December 2021, school is in session. Built amongst the mangroves in the high-end Kanai development complex, a convenient 35 minutes from the Cancun airport, the resort has tapped world-renowned archaeologist Dante Garcia to provide services in-house.
Forget Umbrella Drinks. This Luxe Mexican Resort Lets You Tour Ancient Archeological Sites During Your Stay.
For most, the Riviera Maya is about palm-fringed beaches with free-flowing tequila cocktails. But at Etéreo, an Auberge resort that opened December 2021, school is in session. Built amongst the mangroves in the high-end Kanai development complex, a convenient 35 minutes from the Cancun airport, the resort has tapped world-renowned archaeologist Dante Garcia to provide services in-house.
What’s New in New England This Summer, From Maine to Rhode Island Original
Published on July 3, 2023 The shores of New England become a boundless playground each summer, made all the more sweet by the fact that the fun only lasts from June through September. Traveling north, the coastline unfolds like a series of postcards: Great blue globes of hydrangeas and clapboard cottages clad in rose-covered trellises. Quaint Quaker whaling towns with cobblestone streets and impressive Federal style architecture.
What’s New in New England This Summer, From Maine to Rhode Island
The shores of New England become a boundless playground each summer, made all the more sweet by the fact that the fun only lasts from June through September. Traveling north, the coastline unfolds like a series of postcards: Great blue globes of hydrangeas and clapboard cottages clad in rose-covered trellises. Quaint Quaker whaling towns with cobblestone streets and impressive Federal style architecture.
How to Plan a Romantic Honeymoon in Fiji
The Underwater Hotel Where Guest Needs to Scuba Dive to Get Inside - the Most Interesting Hotel in Florida
A Traveler's Guide to Singapore
Guides Before the country’s iconic Raffles hotel opens in Boston this summer, take a trip 9,000 miles to experience mind-bending skyscrapers, sprawling botanical gardens, and some of the world's best steamed chicken. From day trips to weekend getaways, our biweekly Traveler newsletter shows you the best of New England and beyond.
How to Plan a Romantic Honeymoon in Costa Rica
For a country that could fit into Alaska 30 times over, Costa Rica punches way above its weight. It has the planet’s greatest biodiversity and micro-climates ranging from tropical beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts to impenetrable jungles and lofty, 12,000-foot peaks. “Pura vida,” indeed. And while you may tire of hearing this national catchphrase—used to mean “hello,” “goodbye,” and everything in between—it’s undeniably true.
How to Plan a Romantic Honeymoon in Costa Rica
For a country that could fit into Alaska 30 times over, Costa Rica punches way above its weight. It has the planet’s greatest biodiversity and micro-climates ranging from tropical beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts to impenetrable jungles and lofty, 12,000-foot peaks. “Pura vida,” indeed. And while you may tire of hearing this national catchphrase—used to mean “hello,” “goodbye,” and everything in between—it’s undeniably true.
How to Plan a Romantic Honeymoon in Bali
Magnificent palm-fringed beaches, lush mountainsides terraced with rice fields, and active volcanos: These elements of Bali's landscape are just the cherry on top of this incredible destination. What makes Bali unique is its location at the southern tip of Indonesia, where an amalgam of South Asian cultures converge—Indian, Malay, Japanese, and Thai, to name a few.
How to Plan a Romantic Honeymoon in Bali
Magnificent palm-fringed beaches, lush mountainsides terraced with rice fields, and active volcanos: These elements of Bali's landscape are just the cherry on top of this incredible destination. What makes Bali unique is its location at the southern tip of Indonesia, where an amalgam of South Asian cultures converge—Indian, Malay, Japanese, and Thai, to name a few.
DARK COMEDY
As for the new direction Kargman’s career is taking? During COVID lockdown, her satirical Instagram character Danielle (pronounced “Dzanyelle,” with a thick Great Neck, Long Island, accent) got her 222,000 followers with hilarious takes on speakeasy hair salons, hiding out in the Hamptons, the depredations of high-end takeout and other indignities foisted on entitled New Yorkers.
GOOD STOCK
After studying analog photography at Bowdoin College and graduating with a bachelor of visual arts in 2009, she transitioned to painting, earning a Master of Fine Arts from Mass College of Art. Today, she lives with her husband, Tim Callanan, in Brookline, Massachusetts, while her studio is in the Hyde Park section of Boston, but her heart remains thirty miles out to sea. “I feel my practice is very much connected to Nantucket, because it’s where I feel the most connected to nature,” she explains.
A Guide to Planning Your Honeymoon in New England
There’s a reason why so many romantic ballads have been written about New England, from "Moonlight in Vermont" to "Old Cape Cod." All six New England states—Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine—have limitless charms to delight newlyweds, whether they’re looking to recover quietly from the big day, or dabble in a dose of mother nature.
DARK COMEDY - Nantucket Magazine
Nantucket Current Sign up for N Magazine’s weekly e-newsletter and stay up to date on what’s hot, hip, and happening on Nantucket! Email Address* First Name* Last Name* CAPTCHA Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Written By: Jonathan Soroff | Photography By: Lexie Moreland The hilariously dark life and career of summer resident Jill Kargman.
MA - Out for Blood: The Cape's Biggest Shark Researchers Just Can't Get Along
alking down the dock at Long Wharf in August 2020, I was giddy with anticipation. Ulysse Nardin, the Swiss luxury watchmaker, had invited me to tour a 126-foot ship that was docked in Boston before its upcoming voyage. I have minimal interest in fancy timepieces, but couldn’t wait to learn about the boat and its owners and operators, Ocearch, a nonprofit that Ulysse Nardin sponsors.
Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, Canada Travel Guide
When searching for the ideal spring break, people instinctively look south, toward palm trees and talcum powder beaches. However, two of the most romantic escapes in the Western Hemisphere are actually situated up north and offer a level of gastronomy, pampering, scenery and excitement that surpass anything you’ll find on Worth Avenue, with the added benefit of built-in social distancing.
Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont Travel Guide
When searching for the ideal spring break, people instinctively look south, toward palm trees and talcum powder beaches. However, two of the most romantic escapes in the Western Hemisphere are actually situated up north and offer a level of gastronomy, pampering, scenery and excitement that surpass anything you’ll find on Worth Avenue, with the added benefit of built-in social distancing.
Niseko, Skiing’s Best-Kept Secret
Among the cognoscenti, the top foreign ski destination these days isn’t in the Alps; it’s in Asia. And when a ski resort bills itself as “The St. Moritz of Japan,” it has a lot to live up to. Niseko, on the northern island of Hokkaido, delivers on the hype.
Take a Moroccan Mystery Tour
It its heart, Marrakesh is a city of design. Beyond the Barbary apes and snake charmers on the main square of the medina and the frantic bartering in the narrow, labyrinthine alleys of the souk, the Ochre City has perhaps the world’s greatest collection of classical Islamic architecture, encompassing exquisite courtyard gardens full of fragrant flowers, shade trees and murmuring fountains.
The Most Stunning Castles in the Eire
It’s estimated that there are 30,000 castles, fortifications and ruins scattered throughout Ireland—a huge number for such a small country. Fortunately, many of them have been converted into luxury hotels. Here are a few of our favorites for the next time you find yourself in the mood to do a bit of Irish castle-hopping.
Patrons and Players
Meet Boston’s Creative Geniuses and the Muses Behind Their Art Patron: Susan Paine Player: Mark Volpe The headliners at Pops and Tanglewood might get all the applause, but the man who makes the magic possible is Boston Symphony Orchestra’s managing director, Mark Volpe, who helms the world’s largest orchestral organization. “Ultimately, I answer to the chair of the trustees,” he says. “Susan is incredibly committed and engaged.
Explore The Historic City of Cartagena
In the past decade, Cartagena, Colombia, has emerged as a white-hot destination for one-percenters—an ancient and absurdly picturesque colonial city perched on the edge of the Caribbean, an easy five-hour flight from New York.
Booyah! | Improper Bostonian
Singer/songwriter Joelle James, 29, was born and raised in Murrieta, California, and graduated from Murrieta Valley High School. She began singing at an early age and studied voice at Berklee College of Music. Immediately after graduating, she was signed by Chris Brown, who had discovered her on YouTube. The song she wrote, “Boo’d Up,” recorded by British singer Ella Mai, spent more than a dozen weeks at No. 1 and went platinum, earning the Grammy for Best R&B Song.
Million-Dollar Man
West Coast real estate tycoon and star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, Josh Altman, 40, was born in Boston and raised in Newton. After graduating from Newton South High School, he attended Syracuse University, where he was a kicker on the football team that won two consecutive Big East Championships, allowing him to play in the Orange Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl. After college, Altman spent a short time in New York before moving to LA in 2003.
Opening Night of Full on Forsythe
Opening Night of Full on Forsythe Missives from the jet set By Jonathan Soroff | Photo Credit: Brooke Trisolini | April 5, 2019 Tom Blumenthal, Lisa Blumenthal, William Forsythe and Mikko Nissinen at Full on Forsythe Ballet luminaries from around the world, not to mention local dance aficionados, turned out in well-dressed droves at the Citizens Bank Opera House for the Opening Night of Full on Forsythe, Boston Ballet’s groundbreaking program by avant-garde choreographer William Forsythe. Lia...
Imagine More | Improper Bostonian
Lori, Matthew, Paula and Hope Sidman at Imagine More The mega-philanthropists were out in full-force for Imagine More, held at the JCC of Greater Boston, to honor real estate tycoon Arthur Winn and his family.
There Be Dragons!
When planning a spring getaway, New Englanders too often contemplate going south or west. But if you look north, just under a thousand miles away, is the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Offhand, the most that your average Joe knows about it is that two breeds of large dogs come from there, or possibly that it’s the setting for the smash musical Come From Away, about the town of Gander, where residents welcomed stranded air travelers after Sept. 11.
Oh, NoHo! | Improper Bostonian
Born and raised in Winchester, actor Anthony Carrigan, 36, graduated from Winchester High School and attended Carnegie Mellon University. He spent many years doing theater before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue TV and film work. He made his TV debut on The Forgotten before moving on to the NBC drama Parenthood. In 2014, he decided to embrace his alopecia, an autoimmune disease that results in hair loss, and he is an advocate for body positivity and self-acceptance.
Night at Symphony
Night at Symphony Missives from the jet set By Jonathan Soroff | Photo Credit: Michael Blanchard | March 8, 2019 Karen Mauney-Brodek and Katie Schuller Bleakie at Night at Symphony The swans in Jamaica Pond got a boost from the swans of Boston’s social scene when the Emerald Necklace Conservancy hosted a Night at Symphony to raise money for the Justine Mee Liff Fund.
Simply Marvelous
Actress Marin Hinkle, 52, was born in Tanzania and raised in Newton. After graduating from Newton South High School, she went to Brown University and then earned a master’s at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her numerous stage credits include A Thousand Clowns and Electra, and her TV breakthrough came on Another World. She’s known for her roles on Two and a Half Men, Once and Again and, most recently, as Rose Weissman on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She just finished filming the sequel to Jumanji.
Spin City | Improper Bostonian
After a peripatetic childhood and career, Olympic figure skater Ashley Wagner, 27, recently relocated to Boston. Born in Heidelberg, Germany, she moved a lot while growing up, living in states as far-flung as Alaska. In 2002, she qualified for the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships, and she went on to win bronze in the team competition during the 2014 Olympics as well as silver at the 2016 World Championships.
Rococo Rebellion
Rococo Rebellion Missives from the jet set By Jonathan Soroff | Photo Credit: Matthew Teuten | Feb.
Titi Ngwenya | Improper Bostonian
Academic bona fides: I went to Milton Academy, then Yale for a degree in English, and then I came back to Boston to get a master’s from New England Conservatory. In a previous life: I led a band for several years that played my original music. I worked at WGBH Radio for a program called Sound & Spirit. I moved to New York for a while, made music, loved it and moved back. Hobbies: I started taking tennis lessons when I was 6, and I’ve loved it ever since.
Caroline Collett
Career trajectory: Just about a year ago, I was given the opportunity to join JLL New England’s industrial team as a commercial real estate broker. It was a massive risk to start over professionally at 30 years old, but it was high risk, high reward, right? I can honestly say I haven’t looked back. In your spare time: I’m running the 2019 Boston Marathon for Boston Children’s Hospital. I’ve run three half-marathons but never a full one. It’s a bucket-list item, so I decided this is my year.
Kitzner Vassor | Improper Bostonian
Bona fides:By day, I’m a product manager at a digital health company. By night, I help make good vibes as a DJ for Bella Luna’s Bomba. Charitable involvement: In recent years, I’ve donated my time to Community Servings, which helps deliver nutrition to families enduring chronic and critical illnesses. I love participating in their fundraisers and I picked up culinary skills by being involved in the kitchen. Worst trait: I spend a great deal of time working.
Alex Dillon | Improper Bostonian
How did you get here: I attended the American College in Dublin. From there, I studied hospitality and tourism at UMass Amherst and did an internship in property management in North Carolina, as well as a co-op at Walt Disney World. I moved to Boston this year to pursue my career in IT account management at Collabera. And I’m the woman who showed up on The Bachelor in a sloth costume. In your spare time: Outside of work, my hobbies include painting, podcasts and traveling.
Michael Nichols | Improper Bostonian
Fun fact No. 1: I’ve taught college classes: Intro to Politics and Entertainment & Sports Law. I was a published author shortly after law school in the area of sports law, but I opted to go into public policy for my career. Fun fact No. 2: While in law school, I was cast on a Canadian travel reality show. It’s one of my best stories for a date, so I won’t say too much here, but I did get to backpack 19 European countries in about 55 days, all expenses paid, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Chrissy Macoul | Improper Bostonian
Career trajectory:I’m originally from Windham, New Hampshire, and earned my bachelor’s degree at UNH. After that, I moved to Australia to work at the National Australia Bank. I’ve been in Boston, working at the Kessler Group, for nearly six years now. I’m also finishing up my MBA in marketing and international business at Northeastern.
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