This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.Gems of Wisdom: Did I Just Become a Sports Bro?

Stellene VolandesThu, April 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

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The Yankees season opener on Friday and a Rangers game on Saturday? Who am I? It makes more sense than one might think and we will get to that later. But first I have to tell you about the Bulgari High Jewelry trip to Milan. It’s my third trip to the city this year (should we all just move to Milan? Jason Farago, who writes my favorite art stories and reviews in the NYT told us why maybe yes, we should, in this T&C story two years ago).

Sometimes I wonder if it’s really necessary to travel so far to see a high jewelry collection, but then I take in a Bulgari High Jewelry emerald and yellow gold collar or a jumbo Tubogas choker in the tennis court of Piero Portaluppi’s Villa Necchi in Milan and think, of course it is. The appreciation of the impact of each design choice, the power of a singular palette, are highlighted in an environment like this. Would that famous green room at Villa Necchi have the same effect in yellow? Would Bulgari creative director Lucia Silvestri’s latest Serpenti evolutions seduce similarly if not in turquoise or coral or Madagascar sapphire, diamonds, and onyx? See what I mean? And yes I hit my regular Milanese haunts like Bice, Cova, and Cracco and went to see the Kiefer show again (will probably go back during Salone, too).

Lucia and me at Bulgari’s High Jewelry presentation in Milan.Stellene Volandes

The necklaces worn by Priyanka Chopra and Anne Hathaway at the Oscars were part of this new collection and they were both there to see up close. Anne’s in particular intrigued me because it had some of the hallmarks of Bulgari’s Art Deco pieces. That period is not one the house is immediately associated with—the Liz Taylor/Monica Vitti/Dolce Vita years that came later are—but Bulgari Art Deco is a niche jewelry world obsession and when pieces do come up at auction they are a coveted commodity. Frank Everett at Sotheby’s and I talk about it a lot. Will we be having the Bulgari Art Deco conversation when we see you at Marcel this spring? That new restaurant on the lower level of the Sotheby’s Breuer (get the name?) building on Madison opens next week. I got a preview and one word: GORGEOUS. Ok two: GROWN UP. And now, for the jewels at hand.

The Best I Have Seen

Stellene Volandes

-The Lalaounis egg charms are out. Greek Easter is Sunday April 12 this year (always after Passover). I’ve been wearing my own collection of charms from Lalaounis for a few weeks but now, in the final stretch, in earnest. And for a few weeks after. I go to St. Nicholas on Good Friday for the procession around the 9/11 Memorial—one of the most moving services—and then the Cathedral on 74th Street for midnight mass on Saturday. After, a group of us goes to Milos on West 55th where we feast on leg of lamb after midnight. It’s a thing! If you walk by the restaurant on Saturday you’ll see them grilling meat outside. Old traditions continue in the middle of Manhattan.

Lalaounis/Stellene Volandes

I first learned about the egg charms when reporting a story in Athens more than twenty years ago. Ilias Lalounis was inspired by Fabergé eggs and began doing a more streamlined and classic version in the early 1960s (the Lalaounis Museum posted a wonderful old ad this week). My friend Tina (follow her at @diachronique) has an incredible collection and I started to buy my nieces one each, every Easter. I was just in the Lalaounis store on East 64th St picking up this year’s gifts. The new ones have the 2026 Pegasus wings engraved and there’s also a new sculpted style. I wear my own grouped together loosely on a gold chain but others create charm bracelets or necklaces. And there was one in the store on a very liquid gold wire. That looked great.

Portrait Cuts

Those moments where art meets jewelry.

Stellene Volandes

-If you ask me what show to go see in NYC this spring I’m going send you straight to Raphael at the Met (through June 28). It’s ravishing—and the kind of show that only the Met could make happen. Speaking of Jason Farago, his review included the phrase “always check the jewelry.” Of course we do. And look closely at the female portraits. Who is wearing a ring? Who isn’t? Some of these were commissioned to advertise wealth and chastity. No better way to do that than with gold rings and ruby intaglio lariats (and also, as it turns out in Raphael’s portrait of a young woman: with a unicorn). I went on a members’ preview day and it was already crowded. I’ll try again on one of the Met late nights on a Friday or Saturday (open until 9pm). It’s quite special to be in the museum after dark.

Perfect NYC Nights

I like to say they are why we live here because otherwise, even I have to admit, it can get hard. My plans this month.

Stellene Volandes

-Thanks to Jill Kargman (whose new movie Influenced is out next month—I have a cameo!) I finally made it to dinner at Rao’s, the legendary East Harlem Italian spot where tables are not available for reservations but “owned” by regulars. It was the kind of cross section of New Yorkers that make this city great. And also, excellent baked clams. That’s always my litmus test.

John Brancy sang the national anthem at the Rangers game, which got me thinking: why not have opera singers perform at all NYC games? Yankees next?Stellene Volandes

-Ok so you want to know about how I became a sports bro one weekend? I went to Yankees Opening Day with my brother. It’s something of a family tradition. And I went to the Rangers game the day after that to hear my friend John Brancy—a classically trained and Grammy Award-winning baritone currently performing Le Mariage de Figaro in Paris—sing the national anthem and do the halftime show (Fly Me to the Moon in MSG!). It’s not that different than going to the theater—there is certainly plenty of high drama on that ice—but I also love the routines and rituals. The chants after every goal. The singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the middle of the 7th inning. That soft serve in the helmet. And I have a new idea around having opera singers perform the national anthem at all NYC games. I watched sports fans of all ages come up to John after he sang asking for pictures with him. Wouldn’t it be a great way to get more people to the opera?

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Sticks and Stones

How a jewelry person organizes the random thoughts in her head.

Get in your fill of Donohue’s mint chip while you still can.Stellene Volandes

-Sadly yes, Donohue’s, that UES classic, is closing. No official date but word is we have until the end of the year. My friend Tony and I are determined to go on Fridays at 5:30 as often as we can until then. Burger, martini, mint chocolate chip or tartufo!

-And yes, after we ran that club sandwich story by William Li I do find it my duty to order one at every single hotel. The St. Regis DC added a slice of cheddar which I actually really enjoyed. The Bulgari Hotel in Milan added sliced hard boiled egg which was tasty but has proved controversial. I did a poll and it was a hotly debated subject. The fries that came on the side were mutually agreed upon.

The club sandwich at the Bulgari Hotel Milan.Stellene Volandes

-In my constant quest to find perfect black cropped pants I have landed on Attersee’s cocktail paints in crepe. I also bought them in black satin.

-Jewelry lovers and garden lovers and all enemies of average need to see our story on Ganna Walska’s magical garden, with photographs by jeweler and visionary Lisa Eisner. It’s in the issue with the secret Vanderbilt apartments on the cover. Read that, too!

-Very niche UES news: Birley Bakery has added salads and outside seating and their tuna is delicious, as is the cabbage vegan salad.

The Central Park Cherry Blossom Watch.Stellene Volandes

-Last year I went to see the cherry blossoms in DC and the taxi driver wouldn’t even let me out of the cab because he said I had missed them and the last vestiges were too sad to photograph. This year I decided to track down the beautiful moments in Central Park instead. The ones at the entrance on 72nd and Fifth are in full bloom right now as are the ones right beside Bethesda Fountain (with a gorgeous view of Bow Bridge and the Beresford). I checked this morning and that gorgeous alley of them on the west side of the reservoir are not ready yet but soon.

-As beautiful as the park is this time of year I am craving some beach time. This story might have had something to do with that. I have been searching for a home away from home in Miami for a while and went to the Four Seasons Surfside last year. I think I found it.

-The Tony Award nominations will be announced on Tuesday, May 5, which means the next few weeks are busy: I did Giant last Tuesday, am doing Death of a Salesman Wednesday, The Fear of 13 Opening Night is April 15, and I still need my Schmigadoon! date. And will see Ragtime again soon. And probably again soon after that. If you go to the Lincoln Center Theater Instagram there are videos of the cast recording the cast album. You’ll get it.

Stellene Volandes

Talk again in two weeks!

P.S. If you want to chat about any of the above, email me at stellenesgemsofwisdom@hearst.com.

X Stellene

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