New York City’s NoMad (“North of Madison Square Park”) neighborhood welcomed two beloved Marilyns in February.
First, HGU New York Hotel is hosting “The Red Party,” a pop-up exhibition of Bert Stern’s limited-edition photographs of Marilyn Monroe, displayed in the hotel’s public spaces through April 13. Presented through an exclusive partnership with Gallery 151, the original black-and-white and sepia-toned photographs, with themes of red, are the result of Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 photoshoot commissioned by Vogue. The images, captured over three sessions, would end up being Ms. Monroe’s last sitting, six weeks before her death.
All pieces in the exhibit are sourced from the personal archives of Bert Stern’s The Last Sitting® and are available for the first time in these large-sized editions of eight. And, as if we needed an added reason to admire Bert’s artistry and Marilyn’s beauty, ten percent of the proceeds from all sales will be donated to the Red Cross for Australian Wildfires Disaster Relief.
A Very Different Marilyn
One block away, a very different Marilyn has taken up residence in the newly opened Luxe Life Hotel New York. The landmark 98-room boutique hotel, housed in the former headquarters of LIFE Magazine, pays homage not only to the creatives who influenced our vision of media but also those who helped shape us on a more personal level.
The Marilyn, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is named after Executive Chef Scott Hawley’s maternal grandmother, who sparked his love of good food. With an open kitchen, The Marilyn welcomes guests to dine on fresh house-made pasta, flatbreads and a seasonal menu of modern New American cuisine, inspired by Chef Hawley’s California roots.
And more Marilyns are on their way. This summer, the Luxe Life Hotel will revive another gem from its storied past and take the party underground, with the opening of The Marilyn Downstairs. The cellar bar will inhabit the same spot as the speakeasy that kept the artistic juices flowing for the staff of LIFE Magazine during prohibition times.
