July is about freedom, in all of its glorious forms: Independence Day, Bastille Day, setting sail for Santorini, catching a wave in Malibu, belting out the definitive song of the summer in your Bentley convertible as you motor to cocktails in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, rocking sky blue nail polish. Hiking in the Alps, glamping in the Rockies, or sunbathing in Positano – it’s all about release. For the slightly more sedentary, there’s an epic wave of films, books, podcasts and television shows to discover – if you’re not too busy basking in a summer music or dance festival performance. Here’s our Dandelion Chandelier list of the most important events in the luxury ecosystem in July 2017 – everything you need to know about, all in one place, to have luxurious experiences all month long.
Patriotism abounds this month: Canada Day is July 1, and the country is celebrating its 150th birthday – Ottawa is the ideal place to be. July 4th will see fireworks and parades throughout the US (in Boston, catch Leslie Odom, Jr., Andy Grammer and Melissa Etheridge as headliners for the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on July 3). Bastille Day in Paris will see a military parade down the Champs-Elysées and fireworks near the Eiffel Tower – July 14.
There are popular annual events galore, including the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in London from July 4 – 9 and the Monaco Red Cross Gala is July 28th. In the Hamptons, the Parrish Art Museum midsummer party is on July 15, and the Watermill Center summer benefit is on July 29, as is the 20th edition of Super Saturday, co-hosted by Donna Karan and Kelly Ripa. On the West Coast, the 48th annual Comic-Con International is at the San Diego Convention Center – previews are July 19, and the main event is July 20-23. And Paris Plages will once again transform some of the roads along the Seine into a temporary beach resort complete with sand, a floating pool, and live music.
It’s not all fun in the sunlight and starlight, though – there are corporate and cerebral gatherings of the power elite on the docket, too. Stephen Hawking’s 75th birthday conference on gravity and black holes is in Cambridge, England – July 2-5. The annual Sun Valley Allen & Co. media and tech conference is in Idaho – July 4-7. And the super-elite Bohemian Grove annual campout in the woods north of San Francisco is this month.
Luxury Travel – Top destinations This Month.
–Ski season in South America is on, from now until early October; head to Chile (La Parva or Valle Nevado) or Argentina (Patagonia’s Villa la Angostura or San Carlos de Bariloche).
–It’s the perfect time to visit Provence if you love lavender – there are numerous festivals in the region and the fields are carpeted with purple blooms just like in the iconic photos.
–Newport, Rhode Island is ideal in July, and with the new Gurney’s Newport hotel (from the team behind Gurney’s Montauk) now open, there’s a hot new place to stay – be sure to while away a few hours at the property’s Pineapple Pool Club.
–For the ultimate barefoot luxury vacation, head to the Seychelles Islands: the secluded and private North Island is a VIP destination with just 11 resort villas and a devoted following among the jet set (William and Kate had their honeymoon there).
–If you’re in the mood for adventure, Kenya in July is a perfect choice. The raw beauty, sweeping plains and the Big Five (lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros) are reason enough, but this is also when the wildebeest make the great migration from the Serengeti to Masai Mara. Stay at Sir Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri.
Luxury Travel – Notable Openings.
—W Shanghai- The Bund officially opened on June 30 showcasing a mix of 1920’s glam and futuristic flash
–Another recent opening that should not be missed is the 73-story Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown, which is the tallest building US building west of the Mississippi River.
–Nobu Shoreditch opens in London, featuring a terrace garden and of course, a Japanese-fusion restaurant from its namesake owner – July 1
–The Hotel de Crillon in Paris finally reopens just in time for Haute Couture Week – July 5
–Dream Hotels introduce their west coast flagship, Dream Hollywood, boasting 178 modern mid-century styled rooms – July 10
Food and Drink.
–Nearly a year after Mas (farmhouse) was forced to close after a kitchen fire, chef Galen Zamarra and his team will reopen in the restaurant’s original space in New York City’s West Village – Accepting reservations beginning July 1
–The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan – July 1-8
–Shelly Fireman’s excellent theater-district restaurant Bond 45 will be relocating from the old Bond clothing store to the Edison Hotel in Times Square – July 1
–Taste of Chicago hits Grant Park – July 5-9
–Dinner in the Sky Monte-Carlo is the opportunity to have a meal in the air prepared by a Michelin-starred chef; 22 people per night will take off from the Terraces of the Casino and rise 28 meters high while at a dinner table. 600 people will be able to experience meals from 14 different chefs — July 7-16
–The Mid-Summer Wine Stroll in Paso Robles, CA features wine and gourmet food – July 8
–Chicago’s Windy City Smokeout will feature ribs and brisket from more than 25 legendary American barbeque restaurants. Live country music and craft beers round out the party – July 14-17
–The annual Festival Napa Valley will feature Gloria Estefan and Joshua Bell as part of the food, art and wine event – July 14-23
–The Singapore Food Festival is back for its 24th edition – July 14-30
–Celebrate artisanal cheese at the 9th Annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival, Shelburne, VT – July 16
–Napa Valley’s Grgich Hills Estate celebrates its 40 years as a historic wine estate with an Open House at the winery – July 29
–The James Beard Foundation’s annual Chefs and Champagne gala will be held at Wölffer Estate Vineyards in Sagaponack – July 29
Planes, Yachts and Autos.
–The Goodwood Festival of Speed, the self-proclaimed largest car culture event in the world, continues through July 2
–The Austrian F1 Grand Prix is at the Red Bull Ring in Spielburg, Steiermark – July 7-9
–The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford, UK is one of the greatest military airshows in the world – July 8-10
–Panerai British Classic Week, the annual Regatta of the British Classic Yacht Club, will set sail for its 16th edition this year in Cowes, England – July 8-15
–The Keeneland Concours d’Elegance will be held in Lexington, Kentucky – July 13-16
–The F1 Rolex British Grand Prix takes place at Silverstone Circuit, UK – July 14-16
–The Hungarian F1 Grand Prix is at the Hungaroring racetrack near Budapest – July 28-30
–CarFest North is an all-encompassing car show in Cheshire, England (its sister show, CarFest South is in Hampshire in August) featuring exhibits, races, and live music– July 28-30
Fitness and Sports.
–The 104th edition of the Tour de France sets off from Dusseldorf, Germany, and ends in Paris – July 1-23
–Tuck into strawberries and cream at the iconic Wimbledon tennis tournament – July 3-16
–The Monte-Carlo Casino Roulette Tournament, a legendary table game in Monaco since 1863, has a Prize Pool of €100 000 — July 8
–The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is at Marlins Park in Miami – July 11
–The biennial IPC ParaAthletics World Championships in track and field will be held in London at the site of the 2012 Olympic Games – July 14-23
–The Chio Aachen World Equestrian Festival is in Aachen, Germany – July 14-23
–The World Aquatics Championships, held every two years, are in Budapest – July 14-30
–Jaeger-LeCoultre Polo Gold Cup Championship Final – the most important single polo tournament played outside Argentina – takes place at Cowdray Park Polo Club in Midhurst, West Sussex, England – July 17
–More than 40,000 race fans are expected for Opening Day at Del Mar horseracing track in California – July 19
–Featuring sports like billiards, water-skiing, tug-of-war and “dance sports,” the World Games will attract 3,500 medal-seekers to Wroclaw, Poland – July 20-30
–The British Open will take place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Merseyside, England – July 20-23
–The Francophone Games, held every 4 years, are in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – July 21–30
–RAGBRAI (the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world, heads into its 43rd year in Des Moines, Iowa – July 23-29
–Glen Abbey Golf Course in Ontario will host the Canadian Open – July 24-30
–The Nantucket Bucket will recommence under its new banner, the “Candy Store Cup” at Newport Harbor, Rhode Island – July 27-29
Auctions, Antiques and Design.
–Masterpiece London continues at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, exhibiting art, antiquities, design, and jewelry – through July 5
–Christie’s: European Furniture & Works of Art, London – July 4; Einstein: Letters to a Friend Part 1, Online – July 6-13; Contemporary Edition, Online – July 11-19; The Collection of Raine, Countess Spencer, London – July 13; Interiors, London – July 19; Front of House/Back of House, Christie’s Staff Art Show, Online – July 27 – Aug 8
–Sotheby’s: Treasures, London – July 5; Madame Djahanguir Riahi – Les oeuvres que h’ai aimées, Paris – July 6, Fine Timepieces, Online – July 11-25; Space Exploration, New York – July 20;
–Phillips: Words are Deeds, an Exhibition curated by Francesco Bonami, London – July 11- Aug 25
–The 7th edition of the Market Art + Design modern and contemporary art fair in the Hamptons is at the Bridgehampton Museum – July 6–9
–The inaugural edition of designHamptons, a new fair specializing in mid-century design, takes place concurrently with the existing Hamptons Contemporary fair, bringing together a curated selection of elite design and antiques dealers – July 20-23
–The East Hampton Antiques Show marks its 11th year with a return to the grounds of the Mulford Farm – July 22-23
Fashion and Beauty.
–States of Undress begins its second season on Viceland: in this documentary series, host Hailey Gates explores global fashion and the politics around what women wear (this season has a segment on Syrian refugees creating haute couture in Lebanon)
–Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris brings gorgeous clothes, jewels, and the people who can afford them to town; this year Proenza Schouler and Rodarte join the fun, and Iris van Herpen’s house celebrates its 10th anniversary – July 2-6
–The haute joaillerie shows close out Paris couture week: Boucheron, Chanel, Chaumet, Chopard, De Beers, Dior, and Louis Vuitton are all in the house – July 6
–In Paris, the Musee des Arts Decoratifs celebrates the 70th anniversary of the house of Dior with Christian Dior – 300 gowns will be on display – July 5 – Jan 7, 2018
–New York Fashion Week: Mens’ returns, with shows centralized at Skylight Clarkson Square and Cadillac House in west SoHo – July 10-13
–Patek Philippe stages The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York – July 13-23
–Jason Wu launches a limited edition line of sweatshirts to celebrate the premier of The Emoji Movie – July 28
Film.
–Spider-Man: Homecoming reboots the franchise (again), with Tom Holland as the new Peter Parker, Marisa Tomei as his Aunt May and Robert Downey Jr. as his pal Ironman – July 7
–A Ghost Story, starring Casey Affleck, is the story of a young husband who is killed and returns from the afterlife to visit his wife, played by Rooney Mara – it’s set in a rustic Texas town where ghosts come to life in a traditional form: as gliding white sheets with eyeholes; it premiered to strong reviews at Sundance earlier this year – July 7
–Patti Cake$ also debuted at Sundance and generated strong buzz with a star-making turn from newcomer Danielle Macdonald – it’s about a middle-class white aspiring rapper in New Jersey trying to make it big – July 7
–Bronx Gothic, directed by Andrew Rossi, is the cinematic version of Okwui Okpokwasili’s acclaimed one-woman show of the same name; rooted in memories of her childhood, Okwui tells the tale of two 12-year old black girls coming of age in the ‘80s via dance, song, drama and comedy – July 12
–War for the Planet of the Apes, the third installment in the re-booted franchise, introduces Woody Harrelson as a mad military figure – July 14
–Lady Macbeth is a thriller adapted from a Russian novella set in the 19th century starring Florence Pugh; she plays a married woman who begins an affair with a stable hand – early buzz is that it’s “stark and sexy” – July 14
–Chasing Coral is a documentary that captures the outbreak of coral bleaching – a symptom of global climate change – and the potential consequences for the planet – July 14
–Dunkirk, directed by Christopher Nolan with a star-studded cast (Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, and Tom Hardy) recounts the evacuation of over 300,000 Allied forces from France in 1940 with the Nazis in hot pursuit – opens July 21
–Girls Trip is the perfect summer chick flick: four old friends– Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Tiffany Haddish in a buzzed-about break-out role – embark on a road trip to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, and adventure ensues – July 21
–Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a sci-fi film set in 2740 featuring Cara Delevigne as a special agent, and Rihanna as a showgirl – this you gotta see – July 21
–In Landline, written and directed by Gillian Robespierre, a mother and her two daughters in mid-90s Manhattan must lean on one another as they deal with issues of infidelity and divorce; Jenny Slate, John Turturro and Edie Falco star – July 21
–An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is a decade-on further examination of global warming and its consequences made by former Vice President Al Gore – July 28
–Atomic Blonde features Charlize Theron as a martial-arts heroine working undercover for MI6 in Berlin at the end of the Cold War – July 28
–For the equivalent of a beach read, catch The Emoji Movie, an animated film voiced by James Corden, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph and Patrick Stewart – July 28
Television.
–Netflix’s original 10-episode series Gypsy stars Naomi Watts as a well-to-do Manhattan therapist who gets dangerously entangled in the lives of her patients; Billy Crudup plays her husband – July 1
–Snowfall on FX is the latest from Oscar-nominee John Singleton, the co-creator and executive producer of this drama about the crack cocaine epidemic in LA in the ‘80s– July 5
–Castlevania is a Netflix series inspired by the dark medieval fantasy video game — July 7
–The Defiant Ones is a four-part documentary on HBO about the legendary partnership between Dr. Dre and record producer Jimmy Iovine; Bono, Eminem, Nas, Ice Cube, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, and Trent Reznor are all interviewed – July 9
–Will on TNT is a period drama about a young William Shakespeare starring Laurie Davidson and Olivia DeJonge – July 10
–The Bold Type is a new Freeform show based on the behind-the-scenes exploits at a fashion/lifestyle magazine (loosely based on Cosmo) in the New York – July 11
–Adam Ruins Everything is a clever reality show on truTV that debunks some common misconceptions about big topics like football, weddings, immigration and voting – July 11
–I’m Sorry on truTV is Andrea Savage’s comedy about family, showbiz, and L.A. – July 12
–Ozark, starring Justin Bateman and Laura Linney as parents who move their family to an Ozarks resort community and get involved in a world of dirty money, debuts on Netflix — July 14
–Also on Netflix, To the Bone, Marti Noxon’s first film (she wrote and directed) tackles living with anorexia; Lily Collins, Keanu Reeves, and Lily Taylor star – July 14
–Game of Thrones season seven premieres on HBO – July 16
–Netflix’s Friends from College is an eight-episode comedy series featuring Keegan-Michael Key, Cobie Smulders, Annie Parisse, Nat Faxon, Fred Savage and Jae Suh Park as a group of Harvard alums reconnecting in New York in their 40s – July 14
–Loaded on AMC is the tale of four British tech engineers who sell their startup video game company and become millionaires overnight; the only catch is that they have a real boss for the first time in their lives, and it’s a woman – July 17
–Ballers Season 3 is on HBO – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns as Spencer – July 23
–Insecure returns to HBO with Yvonne Orji and Issa Rae playing BFFs in LA – July 23
–Midnight, Texas launches on NBC; it’s a supernatural adventure, set in the tiny town of Midnight, where everyone is some sort of outcast or runaway – July 24
–Somewhere Between on ABC is about a woman (Paula Patton) with the ability to go back in time by two weeks, which could be just the amount of time she needs to prevent her daughter’s death – July 24
–The Last Tycoon is an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s last work, which was inspired by the life of legendary film mogul Irving Thalberg; starring Kelsey Grammer and Matt Bomer, it debuts on Amazon – July 28
–Room 104 on HBO is an anthology series made up of different stories and actors that all take place in one hotel room; the room in question is a place where “weird, crazy, magical things happen,” according to the show’s producer – July 28
Podcasts.
–36 Questions, written by Brooklyn-based duo Ellen Winters and Christopher Little, is a full-length musical about a couple trying to save their marriage by answering the series of 36 romance-inducing questions that went viral a couple of years ago.
–Stretch and Bobbito on NPR features the two New York DJs, Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia, whose late-night radio show in the 1990s was the gatekeeper for up-and-coming hip-hop artists. They’re back for a new era.
–The Nod, on Gimlet, is co-hosted by Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings, best known for their previous work on For Colored Nerds, their twice-monthly conversational podcast on black art, media, and culture.
–Homecoming, also on Gimlet, is a character-driven mystery returning for its second season with Michael Cera, Mercedes Ruehl, Chris Gethard and Spike Jonze.
Theater.
–Stars from Broadway shows celebrate Independence Day at the 4th annual theatrical staging of songs from the musical 1776 at Feinstein’s/54 Below in New York – July 3-4
–The Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York will stage Intimate Apparel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Lynn Nottage; set in 1905, it tells the story of Esther Mills, a skilled African American seamstress who makes lingerie for both society women and “ladies of the night;” Esther will be played by Kelly McCreary, who currently stars in Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Maggie Pierce – July 4
–The Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia is mounting new plays about liberalism, the rise of the Nazis, and the Bronx in 1977 – July 7-30
–The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park stages A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Delacorte with Annaleigh Ashford (Helena) and Kristine Nielsen (Puck) – July 11 – Aug 13
–Sienna Miller returns to the West End in London in a new production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, co-starring Jack O’Connell at the Apollo Theatre – July 13
–The Public Theater’s Hamlet, starring Oscar Isaac in the title role, officially opens – July 13
–City Center’s Encores! Off-Center series in Manhattan, which revives Off Broadway musicals for short runs, mounts Assassins (July 12-15), Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s 1990 revue of Presidential predators, and The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (July 26-27), Kirsten Childs’s 2000 portrait of a young dancer trying to make it on Broadway
–In The Terms of My Surrender, provocateur/satirist Michael Moore stages a one-man show about current affairs at the Belasco Theatre – previews begin July 28, opens Aug 10
Popular Music.
–The Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival features Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (July 15),
Joss Stone (July 24), and George Benson (July 29) among many others — July 3-Aug 15
–James Taylor and opening act Bonnie Raitt begin a 13-city American tour in Newark’s Prudential Center – stops include Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and DC – July 6 – Aug 9
–Haim, the trio of Californian sisters, release their second album, Something to Tell You; lead single “Want You Back” is already getting high marks – July 7
–Canadian indie-rock bank Broken Social Scene releases its new album, Hug of Thunder, and starts its tour – July 7
–The Full Moon Festival is on Governor’s Island, with rapper Vic Mensa headlining – July 8
–Pitchfork Music Festival features PJ Harvey performing in Union Park, Chicago – July 14-16
–The Nice Jazz Festival takes place July 17-21
–Tomorrowland Music Festival, in Boon, Belgium, features David Guetta – July 21-23 and 28-29
–FYF Fest in LA is headlined by Missy Elliott, Frank Ocean, and Nine Inch Nails – July 21-23
–Splendour in the Grass with headliner The XX runs in North Byron Parklands, Australia – July 21-23
–Hot online news site OZY hosts its third annual OZYfest (described by the Times as “TED meets Coachella”) at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park; Jason Derulo, Samantha Bee, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Issa Rae are among the headliners – July 22
–Fuji Rock at the Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture, Japan with headliners Bjork and LCD Soundsystem – July 28-30
–The Panorama Festival at Randall’s Island, NYC features Frank Ocean, A Tribe Called Quest, Alt-J and Solange – July 28-30
–The Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island features Wilco, The Avett Brothers, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, Drive-By Truckers, Angel Olsen, Nikki Lane, Joseph, Chicano Batman, songwriter John Prine and Fleet Foxes (performing new work from their latest album, Crack-Up), among many others – July 28-30
–Classic East music festival in NYC will feature 70s legends The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Earth, Wind & Fire, Journey and Steely Dan at Citi Field – July 29-30
Books.
–We Shall Not All Sleep is a debut novel from Estep Nagy that takes place over the course of 3 days in 1964; the Hillsingers and the Quicks share a family rivalry that explodes – July 3
–To The New Owners: A Martha’s Vineyard Memoir by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Madeleine Blais is an affectionate look at the iconic vacation resort – July 4
–Queen of Bebop: The Musical Lives of Sarah Vaughan by Elaine M. Hayes is an illuminating biography of the singer, who grew up poor and became a star – July 4
–Made for Love is Alissa Nutting’s sophomore novel about modern love; to escape a bad marriage to a tech mogul, protagonist Hazel moves into a trailer park full of senior citizens with her father and Diane (his extremely lifelike sex doll) as her roommates – July 4
–Final Girls by Riley Sager has been praised by no less a personage than Stephen King as “the first great thriller of 2017” – it’s the story of the sole survivor of a massacre – July 11
–A Life of Adventure and Delight by Akhil Sharma is a collection of eight short stories that focus on Indian protagonists at home and abroad and examine the unpredictable workings of the heart – July 11
–Hello, Sunshine is the follow-up to the successful Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave; Sunshine Mackenzie is living the dream—she’s a culinary star with millions of fans, a line of #1 bestselling cookbooks, and a devoted husband – until she gets hacked – June 11
–Domina is the sequel to the bestselling Maestra; femme fatale Judith Rashleigh once again enters the underworld of Europe’s glamorous elite in Venice, Ibiza and St. Moritz – July 11
–What We Lose is Zinzi Clemmons’ first novel, the story of a young biracial woman struggling with issues of grief, romance and racial identity after her mother’s death – July 11
–Rachel Khong’s first novel, Goodbye, Vitamin, features jilted bride Ruth, a 30-something who quits her Manhattan job and moves back in with her parents, who have issues of their own – Miranda July gives it the thumbs up, so it must be good – July 11
–Laurapalooza will commemorate the 150th birthday of “Little House on the Prairie” author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Scholars and writers will make presentations on her life and legacy in Springfield, Missouri – July 12-14
–Henry David Thoreau: A Life by Laura Dassow Walls is timed to coincide with Thoreau’s bicentennial – July 12
–Equipment for Living: On Poetry and Pop Music by poet Michael Robbins is a series of essays on how works of art, specifically poetry and popular music, can serve as essential tools for living – July 18
–The Dark Dark is the first collection of short stories from the acclaimed author of Splitfoot, Samantha Hunt – July 18
–The Lying Game is Ruth Ware’s latest, about four childhood friends who once pledged that they would lie to anyone—except each other – July 25
–Madame Zero: 9 Stories is the latest from Man Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Wolf Border, Sarah Hall – early reviews are ecstatic – July 25
–Beautiful Bodies is an examination of how and why we try to control our bodies with food by Kimberly Rae Miller – July 25
–The Goddesses is the sophomore novel by Swan Huntley, about a woman who moves her family to Hawaii, only to find herself wrapped up in a dangerous friendship – July 25
–What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women and the Food That Tells Their Stories by culinary historian Laura Shapiro is comprised of short takes on six famous women (including Eleanor Roosevelt and Helen Gurley Brown) through the lens of food and cooking – July 25
Performing Arts.
–The New York Philharmonic will visit China for its third annual Shanghai performance residency; this will mark Maestro Director Alan Gilbert’s farewell to Asia as the Philharmonic’s Music Director – July 2-8
–The Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, devoted mainly to opera, also includes concerts of orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo instrumental music – July 3-22
–The Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole launches its season – July 3-Aug 20
–The festival Les Etés de la Danse in Paris will host the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – July 4 – 22
–The New York City Ballet returns for its annual residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center – July 5-15
–Festival d’Avignon celebrates contemporary performing arts with an interdisciplinary program that includes music, dance, film, spoken word and theater – July 6-26
–The LA Philharmonic arrives at the Hollywood Bowl, its summer home – July 6
–The Glimmerglass Festival of opera and musical theater in upstate New York opens its season; a highlight this month is Francesca Zambello’s production of Donizetti’s The Siege of Calais, which takes place during the Hundred Years’ War (July 16-Aug. 19). Festival runs – July 7-Aug 19
–The Umbria Jazz Festival has been celebrated in the medieval city of Perugia, Italy since 1973, with dozens of performances all over town – July 7-16
–The Caramoor Music Festival in Westchester County, New York, will present Bellini’s Il Pirata – July 8
–The San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival showcases Bollywood, Hula, and Zimbabwean mbira, along with folk dances of Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines and China – July 8-16
–The Lincoln Center Festival marks its 22nd edition with 20 international productions and 43 performances across dance, music, theatre, and film – July 10-30
–The Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays its annual summer season at Ravinia; guest conductors include Susanna Malkki, James Gaffigan and James Levine – July 11-Aug 20
–The 41st edition of the Festival de Jazz de Vitoria-Gasteiz taking place in Vitoria, Spain is a “must-see” on the Spanish musical calendar – July 11-15
–The Lincoln Center Festival at Alice Tully Hall features a 4-night celebration of saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman – July 11-14
–Christopher Alden stages Handel’s rarely-performed opera Aci, Galatea E Polifemo, starring Anthony Roth Costanzo, at the National Sawdust Theater in Brooklyn – July 12-13, 19 & 20
–The BBC Proms begin with First Night in Royal Albert Hall – July 14
–The Fire Island Dance Festival features international companies from a range of dance genres; it’s produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS – July 14-16
–The John Anson Ford Amphitheater in LA reopens after a restoration project; the inaugural performance will be by tap dancer Savion Glover – July 15
–The Lincoln Center Festival brings together the Paris Opera Ballet, the New York City Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet to dance George Balanchine’s Jewels; five performances – July 20-23
–The San Sebastian Jazz Festival, officially known as the Jazzaldia Jazz Festival, is in its 52nd year on the coast of the Basque region in Spain – July 20-25
–The Salzburg Music Festival is the site of four opera productions from the Vienna Philharmonic, including Aida sung by Russian superstar Anna Netrebko – July 21 – Aug 30
–The Santa Fe Opera will feature the World Premier of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs – July 22
–The Nantucket Atheneum Dance Festival is in its tenth year, featuring stars from the New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet and Miami City Ballet – July 24-29
–The Bayreuth Festival features performances of operas by the 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner – July 25 – Aug 28
–Mostly Mozart kicks off with an evening of song and symphony– July 25-August 20
–The Bolshoi Ballet performs Taming of the Shrew at the Lincoln Center Festival – July 26-30
–Jazz in Marciac celebrates 40 summers in southwestern France this year – July 28-Aug 15
–The Vail International Dance Festival is in its 29th season, featuring both ballet and modern dance; opening night will feature works from tap dancer Michelle Dorrance and NYC Ballet principal Lauren Lovette; other confirmed festival performers include Misty Copeland, Tiler Peck, and Unity Phelan – July 29-Aug 12
Visual Arts.
–Aman Mojadidi’s public art installation in Duffy Square in midtown Manhattan, Once Upon a Place at Times Square, transforms discarded phone booths into art; pick up the phone and you’ll hear the stories of 70 different immigrants to the city, oral histories collected by the artist – through Sept 5
–Sunshower: Contemporary Art from Southeast Asia, 1980s to Now is the first exhibition held jointly between Tokyo’s National Art Center and the Mori Art Museum; it’s a survey of almost 30 years of Southeast Asian art, covering approximately 180 works from 85 artists spread over ten countries – July 5-October 23
–Wander through the outdoor exhibition featuring 25 works by some of the world’s most famous sculptors with Frieze Sculpture 2017 in Regent’s Park’s English Gardens; it’s a great way to get a taste of Frieze Masters and Frieze London, before the annual art fairs open their doors in October. Highlights of the sculpture trail include works by John Chamberlain, Urs Fischer, Gary Hume, Michael Craig-Martin, Eduardo Paolozzi and Ugo Rondinone – July 5 – Oct 8
–Philadelphia-based artist Alex Da Corte is showing new work at Secession in Vienna with the focus on life in late capitalist society – July 6–September 3
–Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power at the Tate Modern, London explores a defining era in African-American art, including works by Romare Bearden, Hale Woodruff, Norman Lewis, Lorraine O’Grady, Betye Saar, Wadsworth Jarrell and Frank Bowling, from 1963-1983 – July 12–October 22
–Open 30 – Njideka Akunyili Crosby: Predecessors at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio explores domestic life and “plays with and subverts preconceived notions of Western art history by including portraits of her African family, material references to her Igbo tribe’s customs, and images of Nigeria’s British colonial past” – July 14 – Aug 1
–The Helio Oiticica retrospective at the Whitney Museum will showcase the genre-spanning Brazilian artist, with works including installations and wearable art – July 14
–Brooklyn-based painter Dana Schutz is the subject of an exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston – July 26–Nov 26
–Platform: Clifford Ross Light | Waves is a multimedia exhibit at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill in the Hamptons; the Hurricane Waves series is must-see: the artist photographed the dramatic images during storms off the Long Island coast – July 16– Oct 15
–The fascinating exhibit Picasso: Minotaurs and Matadors continues at the Gagosian gallery in Grosvenor Hill, London until August 25
In addition to all of that, National Ice Cream Day is the 16th (make ours mint chocolate chip, please! With rainbow sprinkles.) In the whirl of options, just remember the secret joy of July: you’re free to do anything – or to do nothing at all. Let the fireworks begin.
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