Sang Hoon Degeimbre, one of the most celebrated contemporary Belgian chefs, whose starred and acclaimed restaurant l'Air du Temps has reached a top position in general esteem, has opened a new  restaurant, in Brussels this time, at the newly restored Gare Maritime at Tour & Taxis. It's called Correspondance in a nod to its travel location and is conceived as a combination of a bistro and a brasserie. We spoke with San Degeimbre opening night and he explained his...

Two 19th century mansions on the Boulevard Marnix have been restored and renovated and joined together to create what they are calling the smallest grand luxury hotel. Architect Julie Scandolo tells us what meticulous work was necessary to modernise the structures while preserving and restoring the original elements. https://origin.eu/en/projects/marnix

The 2024 flower carpet is the stuff of memories but in case you missed it here's Océane Cornille, this year's carpet designer, to tell us how, as a street artist , she took on the task of designing a flower carpet, a very different medium. Her carpet was also the first to use dahlias rather than begonias and that affected her design as well. https://www.brussels.be/flower-carpet

The Design Museum Brussels is holding two concurrent exhibitions on women in design. One, in conjunction with the Vitra Design Museum is entitled Here We Are! Women in design, 1900 - Today and the other one is Untold Stories - Designers femmes en Belgique 1880-1980. Curators Nina Steinmüller and Katerina Serulus tell us what to expect. designmuseum.brussels 

There's a new way to go out to dinner in Brussels. It's called Emile à la Dalle (Emile is Hungry) and it involves changing restaurants for each course and not knowing each destination until you are on your way. Co-founder Thierry d'Otreppe tells us how it works. https://www.emile.brussels

In a career that spanned eight decades. American photographer Elliott Erwitt created a body of work that includes many genres. Elliot Erwitt A Retrosective is currently on view at the Grand' Place. This is a must see exhibition and, since dogs were an important part of his work, to celebrate World Animal Day on October 4th, visitors will be able to enjoy the show with their dogs (signing up beforehand required). Exhibition director Isabel Benoit describes the event for...

Jules François Crahay is a forgotten genius of XXth century fashion who was known as the Belgian Christian Dior. The Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum is currently presenting a  richly appointed first ever retrospective of his work entitled Back to the Spotlight. Head of Exhibitions and Publications Nicolas Lor tells us all about the not to be missed exhibition. https://www.fashionandlacemuseum.brussels/en/ Until 10/11/24.

With over 100 events and locations the 18th edition of Brussels Design September underscores the important position design has in Brussels' economy. Until September 30th you will be able to go to exhibitions, visit stores and studios, have personal encounters, attend lectures, workshops, and openings, in a showcase of Belgian excellence as well as a participation of Prague's most innovative design projects. Event manager Elizabeth Djam tells us what to expect. designseptember.be

Visit Brussels is making a major investment in Queer Destinations. Rika Jean-François, the head of International Business Relations for QD explains what they do and why Visit Brussels' participation is so special. https://queerdestinations.com/

Every so often Valérie Lepla, owner and creator of the iconic Brussels restaurant Pistolet Original, asks a favorite chef to create a special pistolet. This time around she asked Nicolas Misera of Restaurant Misera in Antwerp to do the honors. He explains what he has concocted for a cool sensation, a pistolet based on the local sea's bounty. www.pistolet-original.be https://nicolasmisera.com/

After a thirty year meticulous restoration, the 144 year old commercial passageway connecting the rue Neuve with the Place de Brouckère is inaugurating its refound splendor with the exposition of urban wildlife photographer Thomas Jean's show entitled Sauvage. He tells us all about the rich wildlife to be found in Brussels which he has captured on film. http://www.passagedunord.be/index.php/fr/en www.laminutesauvage.be

Imagine!:100 Years of International Surrealism is the Royal Museum of Fine Arts' major exhibition to salute the centenary of surrealism and the last of this year's mega shows on the subject to close so you can still catch this exceptional exhibition until July 21. Head Curator Francisca Vandepitte explains the thinking behind the museum's take on the anniversary. https://fine-arts-museum.be/en/exhibitions/imagine

The Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) is back with a plethora of the latest of the best International and Belgian movies and a sprinkling of much loved classics. Festival Artistic Director Céline Masset tells us all about it. https://briff.be/en/ June 25 to July 3 2024

The ULB is presenting Biladi Belgica, an itinerant exhibition of photos celebrating 60 years of Moroccan immigration to Belgium. The exhibition is currently mounted across downtown Brussels after which it will go to the ULB campus, and then to Morocco. Curator Ahmed Medhoune tells us the history behind the exhibition. Through  21 July 2024 in downtown Brussels. https://belgica-biladi.ulb.be/

In a city filled with remarkable Art Deco buildings the Villa Empain stands out as the high point. The Boghossian Foundation has restored it to its former glory and has made it not only a museum which aims to connect East and West through its exhibits, but also a convivial place with events that bring people together. Communications Director Caroline Schuermans tells all about this summer's events both inside the museum but also in the lovely garden and around the spectacular outdoor swimming...

BOZAR’s contribution to the array of museum exhibitions celebrating the centenary of Surrealism is: Surrealism in Belgium: It's No Laughing Matter. The show is composed of a stellar collection of works of art brought together for the occasion including works by Paul Nougé, René Magritte, Jane Graverol, Marcel Mariën, Rachel Baes, Leo Dohmen, Paul Delvaux, Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, Salvador Dalí, Georgio de Chirico, and many others. Curator Xavier Canonne explains the various factors that...

To celebrate the centenary of Surrealism, there have been a number of special exhibitions in various museums in Brussels. One of them is coming to a close on  June 2nd so if you haven't been to the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) to see their fascinating show James Ensor: Inspired by Brussels, do yourself a favour and go before it's too late. Daan van Heesch, the curator of the Department of Prints and Drawings at the KBR explains how Ensor, known as " painter from Ostend" had very strong ties...

There are over 80 artisanal bakeries in Brussels but it's not always easy to find them. Luckily for us, journalist Géry Brusselmans created the website Tartine et Boterham which supplies all the information you need to be able to eat the best bread and pastries available; He also puts out a guide and the 2024 issue came out recently. We spoke with Brusselmans at the launch party for this year's edition. www.tartine-et-boterham.be

There's a new museum in downtown Brussels: The Museum of Infinite Realities (MOIR) in which the visitor calls a lot of the shots; so it's immersive but also reactive. Co-founder Kristian Gilroy explains how  visitors become the hero of their own visit. https://www.museumofinfiniterealities.com/en

The role of the arts during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), which devastated large parts of Europe, lies at the heart of an international exhibition at the House of European History. The exhibition Bellum et Artes (War and Art) demonstrates how the warring parties used the arts as a propaganda tool and to show off their power. In the midst of a brutal war that cost millions of lives, works of art became ambassadors of peace. Bellum et Artes is part of a Europe-wide cooperation involving a...

At the crossroad of art, curatorial practices, architecture, graphics, typography and cartography, the Belgian pavilion at the Venice Biennale features UNESCO recognised giants from Belgium, Northern France and Spain, 15 feet tall and made of wicker, fabric and papier-mâché, dancing and twirling thanks to dedicated giant carriers. The collective The Petticoat Government, a group of multidisciplinary artists has created this year’s Belgian participation and members of the collective explain...

11 days, 3 competitions, 48 programs, 300 films, 76 screenings and much more! It's the 27th edition of the Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF) and it's back with much loved categories such as the all night session, the very very short shorts and the open air sessions, as well as some new categories. Co-founder and director Céline Masset brings us up to date. www.bsff.be April 24th to May 4th

Have you ever hungered for a sensory experience that involves the enjoyment of artistic, intellectual, emotional and culinary experiences all at once? Check out Les Passagées, located in a 125 year old house built on a leafy square in Saint-Gilles by an architect as his home, which offers such an exploration in which the audience, artists and chefs all share, question, eat and exchange ideas around a series of dance, music, visual arts and culinary happenings. Artistic Director Alexandra...

There's a new cozy, convivial club in the cellars of the Sheds at Tour et Taxis where one can get a bite to eat, have a drink and enjoy live music ranging from jazz, manouche and Brazilian, to classical. Founder Martine Renwart tells us what to expect. https://www.lebaixu.com/en Music courtesy of Henri Greindl