The Standard stands up
We are honored to take care of people from all over the world, and the diversity of our employees defines who we are.
Stay informed on our latest news!
The New Old Laguna: Casa Loma Beach Hotel
While most of the weekend was left free to enjoy on our own, the highlight of the opening was the immersive theater experience, performed by IAMA Theater Company. Earlier, John had alluded to the premise: a funeral for Cappy, a fictional character meant to represent the old Laguna (pre-reality tv show fame). Not being a big theater person myself, I wasn’t sold. The dress code was that of the hotel color palette: shades that were reminiscent of the surrounding landscape. After the opening act on the pool deck against the sunset over the beach, we were free to explore around the hotel, visiting each scene however we felt. After my first room / scene, I left in tears. I was completely sold.
We watched scenes of a young love blossoming, adult lovers breaking up, past loves healing old wounds. All while learning about the history of the town and interacting with the hotel spaces in an intimate way. Sitting in various rooms and suites, appreciating the hand woven tapestries and soft lighting from the organically shaped lamps. Being warmed by the fireplace on the terrace once the sun had gone down. Continuously moving between the indoors and outdoors, making nature as much of a feature as the interior.
The following morning, breakfast was served on the terrace with stunningly vast views of the ocean. We spotted dolphins following a pair of paddle boarders out on the water. While there is not much that is better than a cloudless sky full of sun and the sound of waves crashing on the shore, Casa Loma works to enhance these simple joys through all its fine details.
Recommended articles
Backstage at Suero: III Points
The party's big tent approach to a fusion of Latin sounds and bleeding-edge club music manifested with iconoclasts like Arca, Isabella Lovestory and Bad Gyal, but the 13-hour run also included Rick Ross, Yung Lean & Bladee and Python's IDM and downtempo collaboration with Ana Roxanne, Natural Wonder Beauty Concept. Of course, Miami and suero love to party, and this instinct manifested most clearly in Nick León's heady, masterful live A/V collaboration with Ezra Miller and Snow Stripper riotous, 3 AM finale. Where it goes from here is anyone's guess—long live the unpredictable suero sound.
Recommended articles
Meet Mili Tekiva Clayton
Where were you born?
New Zealand.
Where do you feel most comfortable?
Outdoors.
What quality do you think defines you most?
I’m brooding, and introspective but prefer my more extroverted, happy side. I’m generally creative and frustrated by my inability to establish boundaries & structures more readily.
What do you look for in a companion?
Loyalty, fidelity, transparency, and authenticity.
What is your biggest weakness?
Wine: I have to fast from it as I enjoy it perhaps a bit too much. Yet I was a teetotaler in my early adulthood. Like with great coffee, less is best.
What is your biggest strength?
My greatest strength is my faith in El Roi, Jehovah Rapha, El Shaddai, Christ, and prayer life, which sustains me.
What has surprised you most in life?
The biggest surprise in my life is watching my daughters emerge as adults and my grandchildren. There are 6; 3 girls and 3 boys ranging from 3 to 18 years of age. My sons-in-law are of Caribbean descent so I consider my grandies as pan-cultural.
What does your perfect day look like?
For me, a perfect day is balanced and productive, spent enjoying the camaraderie, and friendship of others. I also feel centered, grounded & more tranquil being outdoors despite the weather.
What is your favorite color?
Turquoise, ranging from emerald green tones to those like oceans reflecting sky and sunlight. It is different depending on which hemisphere one is in and the time of day.
Who are your favorite fictional characters?
I don't have favorite fictional characters but have many favorite authors, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Janet Frame, Witi Ihimaera, Hone Tuwhare, Alaister Te Ariki Campbell, then Dickens, and Thomas Hardy.
Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
My upline/coach SVP Barbara Stewart-Anderson, whom I aspire to be like, even if to a lesser degree. Before, my inspirations were dance teachers/artists/choreographers in New York: Murray Louis, Hanya Holm & Alwin Nikolais.
What is your favorite food?
Fruit salad, combining papaya, watermelon, kiwi fruit, star fruit, apricot, and nectarine.
What quality do you dislike most in someone?
Envy.
What is your earliest memory?
I was at my paternal grandfather Louis' funeral with the Charlett clan gathered, including my parents assembled for a photo in Marsden Valley Cemetery, Stoke, Nelson, New Zealand. I sat cross-legged with my older cousins kneeling in the front row. I wore a bonnet & held a doll with a cracked head, in my lap. The adults stood behind. I was 2. Seeing a photo of that occasion later in my life was gratifying.
What is your biggest luxury?
Travel.
How do you show someone you love them?
I show love to those significant to me by giving of myself, financially, and relationally, and showing as much commitment & support as I can muster. I endeavor to be as authentic as I can be. Self-care and self-love facilitate this. Counseling, mindfulness, and prayer help tremendously in integrating a healthier self.
What is your biggest achievement?
Teaching children as an educator in the UK/NZ and raising my two daughters as a solo parent.
