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A Jubilant Jewelry Boutique on Chicago’s Gold Coast
Marrow Fine founder Jillian Sassone taught herself how to design jewelry by reworking an heirloom piece from her grandmother. By 2016, she launched her own independent jewelry brand with her husband, Tim, that specialized in creating new heirlooms from reclaimed gold and conflict-free gemstones. This year, Marrow opened its latest flagship in Chicago after its Newport Beach store wowed with a winning mixture of plush furniture and creamy hues. Sassone again worked with Bells + Whistles on the interior, which honors the Windy City’s Art Deco legacy in a breezy palette of terrazzo floors and accents of American walnut. Oversize tambour and Venetian plaster clad the 1,115-square-foot boutique in warm and cool tones, inaugurating a new hotspot for gold and other precious pieces on the Gold Coast. —Jesse Dorris
“The Venus Trap” (2023) by Alexandra Rubinstein. Image courtesy of the artist and Kravets Wehby Gallery…
A New York art gallery hosting the exhibition “Nudity is not Radical!” aimed at de-sexualizing nudity, faced Instagram flagging their account for sharing an artwork depicting a naked body. The exhibition at Kravets Wehby Gallery explores the concept of nudity beyond a sexual context, addressing themes such as gender identity, race, body image, athleticism, and health. One of the artworks that triggered Instagram’s algorithm was Alexandra Rubinstein’s painting The Venus Trap, painted with the artist’s menstrual blood. While the gallery director and artists believe their intent is to present nudity in a non-sexualized manner, Instagram’s content guidelines flagged their posts, raising questions about content moderation on the platform.
Uber is shutting down its alcohol delivery app, Drizly, just three years after acquiring it for $1.1 billion. Drizly, which had become the largest online marketplace for alcohol in North America due to the pandemic-era surge in at-home delivery, will officially close at the end of March. The alcohol delivery service operated separately from Uber and was to be integrated into Uber’s delivery app, Uber Eats. This decision aligns with Uber’s strategy to focus on Uber Eats as a one-stop app for various deliveries, including food, groceries, and alcohol. Uber had also recently sunset its grocery shopping app, Cornershop, to consolidate its delivery offerings.
Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah. Image courtesy of Arada …
Tadao Ando teams up with the Armani Group for a luxury residential complex in Dubai.
Tadao Ando has revealed plans for the Armani Beach Residences at Palm Jumeirah, a luxury residential complex in Dubai developed in collaboration with Arada and The Armani Group. The 90,000-square-foot building will feature 53 homes, ranging from two to five bedrooms, penthouses, and two presidential suites. The structure will have a glass and concrete facade with curved terraces overlooking a ground-floor pool and private beach. It’s set to be completed by the end of 2026 and aims to establish an experiential connection with the ocean, offering residents expansive views through large glazed areas. The interiors will be designed by The Armani Group, offering a choice between dark or light palettes. This project continues Ando’s collaboration with Armani, which began in 2001 with the Armani headquarters in Milan.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul outlined significant transportation plans in her 2024 State of the State address. Key highlights include the possibility of three new subway stations on Second Avenue in Harlem, addressing a significant transit gap, and the introduction of new orbital service in Brooklyn and Queens. Hochul’s priorities include completing phase two of the Second Avenue Subway Extension, focusing on the Interborough Express (IBX) project, cracking down on fare evasion, establishing the MTA’s first-ever Infrastructure Hub, ensuring safety, and engaging local contractors for major infrastructure projects. Phase two of the Second Avenue Subway Extension will add three ADA-accessible stations after 96th Street, benefiting Harlem with new stops at 106th Street, 116th Street, and 125th Street.
The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is facing a severe financial crisis due to the fallout from its 2022 exhibition of paintings claimed to be by Jean-Michel Basquiat, which were later seized by the FBI for being forgeries. The museum’s executive director, Cathryn Mattson, revealed during a meeting that it had incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses for crisis communication and legal defense related to the incident. OMA is now $500,000 in debt, with a projected deficit of $835,000 for the 2024 fiscal year. The institution is seeking to recover costs from its civil lawsuit against the owners of the purported Basquiats and its former executive director. Several high-level donors have shifted their support to other museums, and there is growing frustration with legal and crisis management expenses. OMA also faces significant capital needs, including $6.8 million for roof and HVAC system repairs.
