The air is crisp. The leaves are changing. And the holiday season is just right around the corner. Can you believe it? For the second Above Par Culture Edit, we’re bringing to you some bits and bobs on the latest happenings to look out for—three cultural events New York City (it’s a busy month in the Big Apple!), a new airport dining concept from Capital One, a high-fashion first, and an immersive art exhibition set among the Pyramids of Giza. Take a peek at what November has in store…
For its second edition, all-women Egyptian firm Art D’Égypte collaborated with cultural platform Culturvator to present Forever Is Now, an immersive exhibition comprising a dozen artworks, all installed at the 4,600-year-old UNESCO-designated Pyramids of Giza. Both international and regional artists will take part in the multisensory show; and for the first time, custom Augmented Reality Instagram filters developed with Meta will be telling the story behind each artwork. The organizers share in a statement: “Through an immersive experience of public art, the exhibition envisions a future that is anchored in a deep knowledge of the past, indicating that there is no conception of the future without history, and that there is no time without the present.”
French designer Christian Louboutin, best known for his flirty ruby-soled stiletto pumps, is expanding his high-fashion footwear and accessories line to two rather unexpected demographics: kids and pets. The inaugural “LoubiFamily” collection is more than just micro-sized shoes and accessories for beloved dependents. Louboutin has also introduced his own whimsical world of cartoon superheroes (Superloubi, Wonderloubi, and Pilou the Lemur are their names), which make appearances on kid-sized sneakers in bold primary colors. For four-legged friends, the launch also includes collars, leashes and harnesses featuring signature “Caraspikes” or engraved Loubi red rubber detailing. Need a holiday gift for the posh pup in your life? A dog toy in the shape of Louboutin’s spiked sneakers. The new collection pre-launches exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue on October 25, and on christianlouboutin.com on November 2.
From November 7-13, the New York Comedy Festival is reuniting the world’s best comedians to the Big Apple for a riotous week of stand-up, improv, sketch comedy acts, and more. You’re sure to recognize a few of the celebrities who appear in the 200-talent-strong lineup: Tracy Morgan, Jenny Slate, Conan O’Brien, and Wanda Sykes, to name a few. Best of all, the six-day event isn’t concentrated in Manhattan. The New York Comedy Festival spans venues across the city’s five boroughs, including the Apollo Theater, Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and for the first time, UBS Arena at Belmont Park. All tickets can be purchased at nycomedyfestival.com.
Kicking off on November 10th, New York’s annual Salon + Art returns to the Park Avenue Armory for a five-day showcase of the world’s greatest pieces of historic and contemporary collectible design, jewelry, and blue-chip artwork from leading galleries under one roof. The show’s 51 exhibitors will gather inside the cavernous Wade Thompson Drill Hall, a 55,000-square-foot venue modeled after 19th-century European train stations, and surrounding rooms designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and the Herter Brothers. The 11th edition of Salon also marks the return of in-person programming, including panels and talks, which had been omitted last year due to the pandemic. Click here for tickets.
Last month Capitol One revealed a new airport dining concept called Capital One Landing, a complement to the finance behemoth’s roll-out of plush airport lounges. Developed in collaboration with celebrity chef José Andrés, the food and drinks menu mostly focuses on Spanish-style tapas dishes, offering both at-table service dining and takeaway options. While Capital One Lounge’s debut arrived at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (outlets at Denver and Dulles will come in early 2023), Capital One Landing is slated to open with an indoor-outdoor lounge in Laguardia’s Terminal B and at Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C.
On view at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art until January 8, 2023, The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England showcases over 100 fascinating artworks and objects sourced from international lenders, as well as The Met’s own collection. These iconic relics—royal portraits, tapestries, sculptures, military armor, and more—all come from the markedly cosmopolitan, yet volatile Tudor reign. The pivotal era saw a stark revolution in English art; one resulting from a welcoming of artists and artisans from around the European continent leaving their mark on the now-distinctive style. If you can’t make the NYC exhibition in time, the show will travel to the Cleveland Museum of Art and San Francisco’s Legion of Honor next.
