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Buckingham Palace has unveiled the first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation, painted by Jonathan Yeo, featuring the king in Welsh Guards uniform against a striking red background. The portrait, commissioned for the 50th anniversary of Charles’ membership in The Drapers’ Company, has sparked mixed reactions due to its intense color and dramatic style with one critic even calling it a “formulaic bit of facile flattery.” Some have expressed appreciation for the artistic representation of the king’s character, but others questioned the choice of red, linking it to historical controversies. It will be displayed at the Philip Mould Gallery and Drapers’ Hall.
JW Marriott has teamed up with Flamingo Estate to launch a new product line called Expansion, designed to enhance the guest experience through a focus on scent, sound, and taste. The partnership introduces a signature scent, crafted with notes from Flamingo Estate’s gardens, and includes a range of products such as candles and sleep sprays along with curated playlists and a special wildflower honey used in dishes and cocktails at select hotels. This collaboration marks JW Marriott’s first retail partnership of its kind, aimed at personalizing guest experiences and deepening brand relationships through sensory engagement.
Brandon Haw Architecture unveils a masterplan for Williamsburg’s last waterfront site.
Brandon Haw Architecture has unveiled a masterplan for the Williamsburg Wharf project, a one-million-square-foot mixed-use development featuring five 22-story towers along the Brooklyn waterfront. This venture by Naftali Group and Access Industries will integrate residential, commercial, and public spaces, including a waterfront promenade with landscaped gardens by Scape Landscape Architects. With the first phase slated for completion in 2025, the development aims to enhance the waterfront with resort-style amenities and architectural nods to local history, promising a blend of modern living with community-oriented spaces.
Converse will reduce its workforce as part of Nike’s new plan to cut costs by $2 billion.
Converse is reducing its workforce as part of Nike’s broader initiative to cut costs by $2 billion, which includes eliminating 2 percent of its global staff. The layoffs at Nike, mostly affecting its Oregon headquarters, will complete by the end of the fiscal year and will impact divisions including Converse. Despite the cuts, Converse is adjusting its team structure to spur future growth, while maintaining its own operations in product development and marketing.
Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry will be renamed after Kenneth C. Griffin.
The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago will be renamed the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry on May 19, in honor of Griffin’s record-breaking $125 million donation. Despite relocating his Citadel firm to Miami, Griffin continues to influence Chicago with substantial philanthropic efforts, including a $130 million gift to 40 local organizations last June. The museum’s upcoming centenary in 2033 will also benefit from Griffin’s donation, which aims to enhance its exhibitions and bolster its $200 million endowment, ensuring long-term financial stability and the introduction of new features like the multimedia experience Notes to Neurons.
Dwell asks an important question: When did cookware get so… toylike?
Sage the miniature diva poodle takes home best in show at Westminster.
Jeopardy! will get a new pop culture–themed spinoff on Amazon Prime.
Brutalism is blooming in this new book by Instagrammer Olivia Broome.
