Biohacking and Cryotherapy Wands at L.A.’s New Destination Spa, and Other News

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Biohacking and Cryotherapy Wands at L.A.’s New Destination Spa

There are many things to like about Yabu Pushelberg’s tasteful makeover of L.A.’s Fairmont Century Plaza, the midcentury gem by prominent American architect Minoru Yamasaki that was dubbed “the hotel of the future” when it first opened in the 1960s. But the spa is a notable standout. Soft lighting, warm woods, and natural polished gray stone are some of the central design features across a variety of spaces: nine treatment rooms, high-tech rain showers, sanariums, aromatherapy steam rooms, a Himalayan salt room, and a hammam. 

Of course, the treatment offerings are always paramount—and it’s here where the spa at the Fairmont really seduces. The next-wave wellness therapies include everything from biohacking treatments that address sleep, stress, and mindfulness to cryotherapy wand facials with Lilfox’s vibration-charged, plant-based beauty products to the first North American outpost of Dr. Rita Rakus’ trailblazing medi-spa in London. Even in a town where wellness is religion, it’s an impressive lineup.  

Design Miami/ launches DM/BX, a curated online retail platform for collectible design.

Design Miami/’s new online retail destination, which launched in September, features limited-edition pieces by established and emerging designers. Kicking things off is a collaboration with interior designer Kristen McGinnis, who curated “The Feast: A Dinner Party Collection” of one-of-a-kind tableware inspired by her own love of cooking and entertaining. An avid collector of tableware, McGinnis sourced work by Jeremy Anderson, Yolande Milan Batteau of Callidus Guild, Farrell Hundley, Michiko Sakano Studio, and Hiroko Takeda. 

MoMA reinvigorates its leadership by appointing four women to the executive suite.

The Museum of Modern Art has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of four women: Sarah Suzuki as associate director of the curatorial affairs division, Beverly Morgan-Welch as the senior deputy director of external affairs, Christy Thompson as senior deputy director of exhibitions and collections, and Nisa Mackie as the Edward John Noble Foundation deputy director of learning and audience engagement.  

A luminous artwork with a charged message lands at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Installed over the shed to the Atlantic Avenue subway station, one piece reads “we belong here” in pink neon letters, while the other says “you belong here” in white neon. Designed by Tavares Strachan, the messages serve as a commentary on the borough’s changes over the past decade since the stadium was built, including its emergence as a central gathering place during the George Floyd protests. The pieces will be unveiled to the public on October 23.

Solange’s Saint Heron opens a free library of rare books and art by Black creators.

Solange’s creative studio and platform is launching a free library of “esteemed and valuable” books by Black creators for study and exploration. Readers can borrow the books free of charge for 45 days on saintheron.com starting Monday, October 18. The library aligns with Saint Heron’s broader goal to “build upon its urgent mission to preserve, collect, and uplift the stories, works, and archives that amplify vital voices within our communities.” The first season runs until the end of November and will be guest-curated by Rosa Duffy. 

Foster + Partners’ Centennial Yards mega-development gets greenlit in Atlanta. 

Designed in collaboration with Perkins + Will’s Atlanta studio, the mixed-use development will include 12 million square feet of creative office space, mixed-income housing, retail, hotels, restaurants, bars, and public green space. Located on the southern edge of downtown in a manmade ravine called The Gulch, Centennial Yards will buoy the area around State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “We believe this project is a unique opportunity to stitch the fabric of this great city together with state-of-the-art buildings, amenities and public spaces that will transform this part of Downtown Atlanta, says Armstrong Yakubu, senior partner at Foster + Partners. “Creating a new 50-acre walkable, mixed-use city center, it is designed to welcome pedestrians, bring neighborhoods together, and to be sustainable for generations to come.”

U.S. city planning directors acknowledge the history of racism in their profession.

Nearly two dozen city planning directors across the U.S. have released a joint statement acknowledging the role their policies and departments play in segregation and systemic racism. The statement outlines a series of commitments aimed at creating more equitable communities such as diversifying planning departments, and working to fix displacement resulting from new development, and promoting more economically diverse neighborhoods. 

In Chicago, a new show tracks the demolition of two Wright and Sullivan structures.

“Romanticism to Ruin: Two Lost Works of Sullivan & Wright” (through Nov. 27 at Wrightwood 659) recounts two heralded American designers through the prism of two projects, Sullivan’s 1892 Garrick Theater in Chicago and Wright’s 1906 Larkin Building in Buffalo, known for their innovation and cultural prominence but were razed and replaced with parking only decades after completion. “There is a tradition of tearing things down,” says architect and show collaborator John Vinci. “Buildings are not just personal property; they have public value too.”

Today’s attractive distractions:

McDonald’s will start cooking up Beyond Meat McPlant burgers next month.

The photographer Aishy illuminates a basilica into a cyberpunk dreamscape. 

Hermès launches its first-ever collection of nail polish in 24 colorful shades.

This Cookbook Is Made for the Fifth Dimension serves some escapist fun.