“
Conceivably themost
improbable interest is that of
hotelier, a job that resulted from thedesire to saveadilapi-
dated inn located in the localhorse-countryenclaveofBedford,
NewYork. Ridinghishorsepast the two-century-old former
coaching inn that datesback to theRevolutionaryWar times
of the1760s, hehad theproverbial “aha”momentand, together
withhiswife, decided to rescue thehistorical building. “It
wasbeautiful and cathedral-likeand,when itwent on sale, I
felt anobligation tobuy it,”henotes.
Justashort train ride fromManhattan, thewelcome re-
spite from thecityhouses thesmall luxuryhotel (bookearly,
as thereareonlyeight rooms in the inn,makingyou feel like
youarestaying inaprivatehome), yogastudio, reflecting
pool, Zengarden, and two restaurants,TheBarnandThe
Farmhouse.BedfordPostwas inducted into theprestigious
Relais&Châteauxgroupof properties in2010.
GereandLowell teamedupwith local developerRussell
Hernandezanddesignedeco-friendlybuildingsfilledwith
charmingyet contemporary features— limedoakdoors,
soothingneutral tones, sisal-carpetedhallways, balconies
thatoverlook thewoodedproperty (visitedby theoccasional
deerand fox), andfireplaces.DesignedbyLowell andTiffany
Vassilakis, luxuryFrettesheetsandupscaleantiquesmingle
withPotteryBarnnightstandsandWestElm rugs. Inspired in
partby theLaColombed’Or inSt. Paul-de-Vence, France, the
largebathroomswithpedestal sinks, Carreramarble, and
antique importedclaw-foot tubs fromPortugal areastandout.
According toGereon thedesigndetails, “Itwas important to
us thatBedfordPost embrace itsColonial rootswithout incor-
poratingaheavy-handedperiod theme.”
Chef JeremyMcMillanpresidesover thekitchen that
boasts farm-to-tableofferingswithaseasonalmenu that
trends towardcontemporarycuisine.TheFarmhouse is the
more formal of the two restaurants.Triedand truesignature
dishessuchasJohnboy’schickenand thechef’spastasare
mainstaysamong theguestsand localBedfordcrowd,which
often includesnearby resident and repeat dinerMartha
Stewart.Housed in theadjacentbarnandyogastudio, theaptly
namedTheBarn cafeoffersbreakfast, lunch, andbrunch in
amore relaxed setting.WhileGere reportedlydoesnot cook
and recently starteda “fairly strict vegetarian re-
gime,” hedoes recommend the risottoand the “ter-
rific chickendishes.”Other roomsof noteare the
actor’s favoriteprivatedining roomwhereguests
can reserve theChef’sTable, and thegeothermal
wine cellar that housesmore than 2,000bottlesof
wineand seats 14 forprivate tastingsanddinners (24
for cocktail parties).
While therestaurantsarepackedwith locals,bring-
ing thecommunity togetherwasanotherobjective for
the inn,as feedingboth themindandbody isapriority.
“Ourgoal increatingBedfordPostwas todevelopa
space for thecommunity tocome together toshareboth
ideasandconversations,”saysGere,whoenvisionshost-
ingsymposiaheadlinedbyspeakers from theworldsof
academia, spirituality,and thearts. “It’smyhope they
willcomeanddiscussandnetworkataveryhigh level
abouthow tohaveapositive impacton theplanet.”
Acting, spirituality, and
innkeepingaren’t the
onlypassions inhis life—Gere isanavidYankees fan
aswell,which ledhim topena recent coverstoryon
YankeepitcherMarianaRivera for
Gotham
magazine
and throwout thefirstpitchat lastyear’sspring
training.Healsohelpedcoachhisson’sLittleLeague
team toa local championship. “Baseball playersare
very, verynice; Ihavenevermetabaseball player that
Ididn’t like,”heconcludes. “They lovekidsandare
verygenerous.And it’snotaviolent sport… it’sa
kindof gentlemen’ssport.” Ironically,Gerehasyet to
star inabonafidebaseballmovie.Given thevariety
and longevityofhiscareer, onewill nodoubtbeonhis
multifacetedhorizon.
COVER STORY
Richard Gere
FALL 2012
celebratedliving.com
28
LEFT:COURTESYOF THEBEDFORD POST (2);RIGHT:WARDROBE STYLINGBYCHRISTINEHAHN;GROOMINGBYBIRGITTE FORRENE FURTERER;BRIONIGRAY JACKET ANDBLUEPLAIDSCARF,GIORGIO ARMANI V-NECK SWEATER AND SHOES
The Bedford Post’s The Barn cafe (above) and The Farmhouse (below)
