Miscellaneous

🎤 Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, opened on January 11, 2017, and is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The venue features three concert halls, 45 apartments, a 244-room hotel, and the Plaza, an urban square. On September 1, 2026, a concert by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be live-streamed. A new book, released on September 2, 2026, honors this landmark. With its unique design and acoustics, it remains a cultural beacon.

🏫 The store, Gathered, is a family-run business where the narrator's mom and Grandma Jan work. Located at the main intersection of a small town, it was formerly The Kozy Korner, purchased for $110,000. The family transformed its interior and exterior. Over the years, the mother collected items from countries like Germany and South Africa, enriching the store's inventory. They personally renovated the space, enhancing it with a new wood floor and exposed timber roof trusses.

📰 The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the cancellation of its May 2027 Costume Institute retrospective, "John Galliano: Horizons," amidst controversy over Galliano's past antisemitic remarks. Galliano was dismissed from Dior in 2011 due to such comments. After discussions with the museum and backlash from New York's Jewish community, the exhibition was shelved. Galliano expressed regret, noting the potential harm to the museum and its supporters. The museum hasn't disclosed plans for a replacement exhibition.

🍻 Fit Cat, a low-calorie lager brand founded by Arian Zandi, partners with Enotria for exclusive UK distribution. This deal marks Fit Cat's first national route-to-market agreement in the UK hospitality sector. Emphasizing health and quality, Fit Cat offers up to 50% fewer calories than traditional beers. The partnership aims to introduce Fit Cat to top UK restaurants, bars, and hotels. Since its launch earlier this year, Fit Cat has rapidly gained traction in the market.

🍴 Chef Matt Abé launches a seasonal £110 three-course lunch menu at Bonheur in London, available Thursday through Saturday. Chef Francesco Mazzei introduces Prezzo Fisso at Mezzogiorno, offering a southern Italian lunch at £39 for three courses or £32.50 for two. Nobu London on Old Park Lane presents the Nobu Signature Lunch for £40, featuring celebrated dishes, available weekdays. These culinary offerings highlight summer flavors and diverse cuisines in the heart of London.

✈️ ChatGPT optimizes flight booking, mimicking a $300/hour travel agent. It analyzes dates, nearby airports, and split tickets, ensuring a cost-effective booking. With five prompts: The Fare Detective Brief, Date Flexibility Map, Hidden Fee Audit, Points and Cash Check, and Booking Window Plan, users find the cheapest, most practical options. The system factors in hidden fees, loyalty points, and booking windows for strategic planning. Unlock AI expertise with free newsletters offering over 50 courses and 1200 ChatGPT prompts.

💼 In 2008, Belgian designer Maarten De Ceulaer revolutionized fashion storage with his "Pile of Suitcases" project at Design Academy Eindhoven, transforming wardrobes into configurable art. Medieval wardrobes, or 'garderobes,' evolved from rooms to furniture, highlighting the historical value placed on garments. The September 2026 Style Issue of Wallpaper* explores these transformations, available in print and digitally.

🏗️ Paul R. Williams (1894–1980) was a pioneering Black architect from Los Angeles, first registered Black architect west of the Mississippi. In 1923, he became the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects, winning the AIA Award of Merit in 1939. Williams designed 1,500 projects over six decades, including homes for Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra. Three LA museums will showcase his work until March 2027. Posthumously, he received the AIA Gold Medal in 2017.

🍴 Threadneedles hotel in the City of London has partnered with The Mercer, an 18-year-old British brasserie. The Mercer has relocated to the historic banking hall, dating back to 1856. The menu features Dorset crab, dry-aged Hereford beef, and shepherd’s pie. The brasserie will handle private dining and event catering for the boutique hotel, which also boasts a bar in a former banking counter and serves afternoon tea under a stained-glass dome.