Knock Yourself out Beirut Packs a Manly Punch

No. 61 AUG/SEP 2012 LL10,000 US$7

Knock yourself out Beirut packs a manly punch

Fashion The new fall collections Celebrities Yayoi Kusama meets Marc Jacobs Travel The elephants of Laos Anniversary A magazine turns 10 Art Beirut’s summer highlights Design Richard Meier talks architecture Restaurants Indian fusion in Beirut, London and San Francisco A journey _ new york hotel

Maialino restaurant (left), a glimpse of the Jade Bar (directly below) and the Gramercy Terrace Artistic restaurant (bottom)

haven By Marwan Naaman

New York’s Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, a great place to have breakfast (freshly baked Gramercy Park Fernando Botero, Thomas Hoepker and George croissants, toasted bread, fruit preserves, Condo. In fact, whiling away an evening in coffee, orange juice), sample modern Hotel offers stylish front of the lobby’s blazing fireplace, under the American cuisine or enjoy sunset cocktails. spectacular Venetian glass chandelier and in full accommodation in view of an authentic Botero, has got to be one of Rose Bar and Jade Bar this world’s loftiest experiences. The Rose Bar and Jade Bar, two of Manhattan’s an art-filled space hottest nightspots, are set inside the Gramercy Maialino Park Hotel, immediately to the right of the Once you pull yourself away from the engaging entrance. The first one visitors spot is the lobby, you’ll want to explore the rest of the Jade Bar, where red drapes cascade over walls property. First off, indulge in the culinary painted a majestic green. While the Jade Bar is pleasures of Italian restaurant Maialino, set open to all, the adjacent Rose Bar is an exclusive directly to the left of the hotel entrance. Here, destination where reservations are required If you’re planning a trip to New York, one of The reigning property in the area, located chef Nick Anderer creates his own version after 10pm and access is seldom guaranteed. the most important decisions you have to directly on the park, is the Gramercy Park of Roman classics. Designed to resemble a Fortunately, if you’re a guest at the hotel, you make is where you’re going to stay. The city Hotel, a 185-room establishment that Roman trattoria, Maialino has three distinct can ask the concierge to add your name to has an endless number of hotels, many of sets the standard for New York cool. First sections: the main dining area, the bar area the guest list, allowing you to rub elbows with which are among the best in the world, so opened in 1925, the Gramercy Park Hotel and the private dining room for special events. celebrities for at least one night. Both bars choosing a temporary Manhattan home can was redesigned in 2006 by hotelier Ian The bar area, featuring cocktails and nibbles, shimmer to the glow of soft candlelight, and be a daunting task. Schrager, who had the ingenuity to employ is particularly popular as an after-work both showcase spectacular artworks by the architect John Pawson and Oscar-nominated destination for hip New Yorkers, who will likes of Hirst, Warhol and Schnabel. An easy way to proceed is to settle on a filmmaker and interior designer Julian often start the evening with a few glasses of neighborhood and then check out which hotels Schnabel to overhaul the property. red wine, and then move into the dining area Fitness and spa are available in your choice area. Most visitors for delectable Italian fare, like spaghettini All the eating and drinking at the Gramercy are quick to single out Times Square, Fifth Inspired by the spirit, colors and art of the with anchovies and olive oil and fettuccine Park Hotel certainly doesn’t mean that you Avenue (with its high concentration of shops) or Italian Renaissance, Schnabel used a bold mix with suckling pig ragu and parmesan. have to let yourself go. The hotel gym, with lively, super-trendy Soho. of hues (burgundy red, mint green, royal blue) its massive windows overlooking Gramercy and materials (brick, untreated wood, Louis XV Gramercy Terrace Park, offers modern equipment and even I propose a different area: Gramercy Park. furniture, handmade Moroccan tiles) to create If you want to try an entirely different dining personal trainers upon request. The on-site Quieter than other Manhattan hotspots, and breathtaking interiors. experience, take the elevator to the 18th spa has a steam room and a whole range of graced by the leafy park that gives the area its floor. Here, high above the surrounding massage and beauty treatments. name, Gramercy Park is a small neighborhood The lobby is something of an art gallery, offering buildings and in a bright, plant-filled space, with high doses of charm and an aura of a changing selection of paintings by some of the you’ll find the Gramercy Terrace. The The rooms

timeless romance. world’s most revered artists, including Andy ©Gramercy Park Hotel restaurant, with its retractable glass roof, is Then, of course, you have the spacious and

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The Gramercy Park Hotel’s lobby (below) and the hotel’s plush Drawing Room (right)

luxuriously appointed rooms. Don’t expect Anton Kern Lombard-Freid Projects traditional hotel guestrooms or ubiquitous This major gallery features an exhibit of From September 6-October 17, the gallery features minimalism. The rooms at the Gramercy Alessandro Pessoli’s work from September American artist Michael Rakowitz’s solo exhibit Park Hotel are all about tasteful grandeur 6-October 13. “The Breakup.” and sophisticated excess. Furnishings 523 W. 20th St., tel. 1.212.367.9663, www. 518 W. 19th St., tel. 1.212.967.8040, www.lombard- include leather chairs, hand-knotted rugs, antonkerngallery.com freid.com velvet curtains and oak floors, while tech amenities range from flat-screen TVs and Bortolami The Pace Gallery DVD players to an iPod docking station. Works by Barbara Kasten and Justin Beal are on The respected art gallery exhibits the work of view until August 3. Wang Guangle until August 17 in one of its two A walk in the park 520 W. 20th St., tel. 1.212.727.2050, www. Chelsea locations. During your stay at the hotel, be sure to make bortolamigallery.com 534 W. 25th St., tel. 1.212.929.7000, time for a leisurely walk across Gramercy thepacegallery.com Park. This is Manhattan’s only privately David Zwirner owned park, and access to the green space is On view until August 10, “People Who Work Here” Paul Kasmin Gallery exclusively for residents of the neighborhood is a group exhibit curated by Rawson Projects. Until August 17, the art gallery features and hotel guests. Ask the concierge for a key, 525 W. 19th St., tel. 1.212.727.2070 and 519 W. 19th “Sculpted Matter,” focusing on contemporary and discover this lush sanctuary. St., tel. 1.212.517.8677, www.davidzwirner.com sculptures, and beginning on September 6, the works of artists Erik Parker and Saint Clair For reservations, tel. 1.212.920.3300, www. Gagosian Gallery Cemin are on display. gramercyparkhotel.com The prestigious art establishment has two 293 10th Ave. and 515 W. 27th St., tel. locations in Chelsea, featuring changing exhibits. 1.212.563.4474, www.paulkasmingallery.com Art tour 555 W. 24th St, tel. 1.212.741.1111 and 522 W. 21st Even though Chelsea, with its high concentration St., tel. 1.212.741.1717, www.gagosian.com White Box of art galleries, is located on Manhattan’s West This pre-eminent art space hosts “The Art of Side, you can easily walk from the Gramercy Greene Naftali War” exhibit from August 1-7. This is the first Park Hotel to the galleries via 23rd Street. The Works by contemporary artists are on view at this time that a complete graphic novel has been entire trek will take about 15 minutes. Once there, art space. exhibited at a gallery. check out some of the world’s most renowned 508 W. 26th St., eighth floor, tel. 1.212.463.7770, 329 Broome St., tel. 1.212.714.2347, www.

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