What makes some of these local or global creatives tick? In this weekly column, Gibran Baydoun, founder of That’s Proper Hospitality (you know, the man behind Lucali BYGB, Proper Slice and Corduroy Palace) shares his favourite things.
1. Ruth Etta Collins: My late grandmother was a force. One of the first black women to graduate from her university, she went on to earn a master’s degree while simultaneously being a single mother of six. She made major accomplishments in the special education field and did it all with a level of class and grace that is unmatched. She and her close friends from church were part of a group and called themselves, The Peculiar Ones.
2. Mies Van Der Rohe: Pioneer of all things modernist architecture and Bauhaus, his design philosophies of “less is more” and “God is in the details” drive my creative vision and approach towards hospitality and design.
3. NoHo: My old stomping ground in New York, NoHo was my favorite neighborhood to live in and is a place I miss constantly. Basquiat, Mapplethrope and Warhol would run around those streets, and you can still find remnants of 1980s street art, but the best thing about it are the people who call those few blocks home. There is a creative energy oozing out of Cooper Union and I miss those late nights at Pegu Club or downstairs at ACNE.
4. Scents: I have an addiction to great perfumes and am a true sucker for all things Le Labo or Byredo. These days it’s Black Saffron from Byredo and the Paris scent from Le Labo. They give me calm and just the right amount of daily luxury.
5. Aimé Leon Dore: If I was told to only wear one other brand the rest of my life, this would probably be it. Classic, timeless style is all I need in my life, and they are a true New York voice from Queens who do things that aren’t exactly “cool”, but still manage to push the boundaries on what you’re supposed to think about a lifestyle brand. Their Porsche 911 Carrera is truly goals.
6. Mia Moretti: There is singularly no one I stalk more on Spotify than DJ Mia Moretti. Her playlists —What2Listen2When — are all total vibes. With my strong obsession with music and being able to articulate a feeling in my restaurants or in my home through music, she gives me so many weapons to add to my arsenal especially when it comes to my favourite genre: soul.
7. Contemporary Art: Although I have a special obsession with modern art, I do have a particular excitement and take a lot of inspiration from contemporary artists today. There is something remarkable to watch art history being made in real time and to feel such relevant conversations and perspectives on art being made today. I am personally inspired by the work of Eduardo Enrique, Tyrrell Winston, Robert William Moreland, Jenny Holzer, Beverly Fishman and Agnes Martin. Each represent perspectives that oscillate between the visceral and the discreet.
8. Pizza and Wine, and Dumplings and Oysters: Trying to choose only one food obsession is almost impossible but the way a slice of pizza and a glass of Chassagne Montrachet can literally change my life is not too understated. That always leads to some really great Xiao Long Baos, more wine and a couple dozen oysters. This would be my last meal.
Once you’re done with this story about Gibran Baydoun of That’s Proper Hospitality, click here to catch up with our September 2021 issue.
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