Harry’s Culture Radar: June '23
A monthly briefing on the very best in art, food, travel, and design
Staying on top of the world’s important cultural happenings takes serious time and energy, and even the most devoted cool collector is bound to miss a thing or two. That’s why we created Harry’s Culture Radar, our new monthly feature that curates the most interesting, relevant, and stylish bits of cultural intel from around the world and across the web. From the best new restaurants and the hippest hotels to the latest trends in architecture and design, our monthly briefing is made to bring you up to speed on under-the-radar happenings you might have missed in the newsfeed. This month: a stylish home-away-from-home in Morocco, must-see museums in New York, and the best TV show ever made about sandwiches (plus where to eat one in Toronto).
Moroccan Dreams
The palaces, gardens, and markets of Marrakech have made the Moroccan imperial city a popular tourist destination for nearly a century. From Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin to Paul McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent, high-profile visitors have fallen in love with Marrakech’s terra cotta walls, palm groves, and vibrant local culture. Among the newest additions to this ancient city is the stunning Maison Brummell Majorelle, which combines elegant modern design with traditional Moroccan materials and motifs. Located adjacent to Yves Saint Laurent’s famous former home at Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent museum, Maison Brummell Majorelle’s eight suites provide the perfect home base for exploring the city in style.
Stone-Age Modern
In a place like New York City, which is home to some of the world’s most iconic structures, it’s not easy for a building to stand out. The new Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History, however, is one of the city’s buzziest projects in recent memory – and not just because it’s home to the museum’s insectarium. Designed by Studio Gang, whose monumental One Delisle tower is currently rising above midtown Toronto, the new museum wing features a panelled stone facade and galleries branching off a stunning cave-like atrium. Inaugurated in time for the summer season, it’s a must-visit site for architecture buffs and natural history nerds alike.
Art Loves NY
The Beatles in the backyard of Abbey Road Studios © Terry O'Neill - Iconic Images
Anyone headed to the Big Apple this summer, as ever, will have no shortage of things to see and do, from lining up for salted peanut butter vegan soft serve at Morganstern’s Bananas, to catching Oscar Isaac's Broadway debut. No visit to NYC, however, is complete without a visit to some of the city’s museums and galleries, which have a diverse slate of exhibitions for summer. First and foremost is A Line of Beauty, the Met’s Karl Lagerfeld retrospective spanning early sketches from the 1950s through his final Chanel runway show in 2019. At the Brooklyn Museum Africa Fashion offers a contrasting perspective with work from 40 designers and artists from 20 African countries – many on display for the first time in the US. Fotografiska’s Gramercy Park gallery always has something good cooking and this summer that means a glamorous collection of portraits by Terry O’Neill including iconic shots of Brigitte Bardot, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie in their prime.
Bear Necessities
On June 22nd Season 2 of The Bear brings us back into the frenzied world of Carmy Berzatto, the beleaguered owner of The Original Beef of Chicagoland, and his motley crew of chefs. The show’s first season (which is available to stream on Disney+) was widely praised for its realistic depiction of kitchen life, and a stacked cast including Jeremy Allen White, Oliver Platt, Jon Bernthal, and Canadian celebrity chef Matty Matheson. While season two finds the Original Beef crew working on the launch of a new fine dining concept, anyone who’s still hungry for an Italian beef can satisfy their jones at Marq’s Chicago Beef in Toronto.