With respect to the former, Chicago residents have long embraced the trend of taking their workouts to the great outdoors.  

And with good reason.  

Through the We Move Chicago initiative, the scenic Chicago Park District – which covers more than 8,000 acres of open space and is comprised of nearly 600 parks including the popular Grant Park, Millennium Park, and Lincoln Park – promotes, educates, and motivates Chicagoans of all ages and abilities to adopt a healthier lifestyle by moving more and eating better. Offering fitness and nutrition classes taught by certified fitness instructors and former military personnel within the parks themselves, as well as over 70 fitness centers fitted out with state-of-the-art equipment, the Chicago Park District delivers a high-quality, low-cost alternative to commercial gyms for anyone in search of a convenient path to increased physical activity. 

Likewise, Chicago offers a plethora of options for biking, jogging, running and active walks against the backdrop of the city’s iconic landmarks and well-preserved natural treasures. Take for example, the Chicago Lakefront Trail, the grand dame of the local running scene, which not only affords runners an 18-mile paved path, but also phenomenal views of the lake and Chicago skyline alongside notable sights such as the Navy Pier, the museum district, and Soldier Field. Similarly, a run through the city’s venerable Hyde Park neighborhood offers a picturesque 5 to 7-mile  tour that encompasses the University of Chicago and some of Chicago’s most historic townhomes, while the Bloomingdale trail, popularly referred to as the  606, serves up a scenic path for local walkers, runners, bikers, and families with multiple access points across four of Chicago’s most well-trafficked neighborhoods — Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, and Humboldt. 

Beyond traditional fitness activities, however, Chicagoans, like Americans across the country, have adopted the notion that wellness must necessarily include a concerted focus on overall mental and spiritual well-being in addition to building muscle and burning fat through physical exertion. In recognition of this fact, mindfulness and meditation studios have popped up all across the city, providing urban dwellers with a sanctuary to escape the chaos and cultivate inner peace through guided meditation sessions, mindfulness workshops, and stress-relief programs that assist patrons in finding balance in a fast-paced and relentless world. 

While wellness spas like Lume, located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, offer services ranging from cryotherapy, NAD+, vitamin IV drips and lymphatic compression to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, massage and red light therapy, Insight Timer Chicago offers a meditation community with scores of instructors who work to help patrons develop a mindfulness practice that can help to minimize the effects of stress and sleep disorders, restore spiritual harmony and balance, and improve mental health and personal productivity. 

Meanwhile, Aire Ancient Baths, located in a restored factory from 1902 in River West, takes guests on a candlelit journey through the traditional Roman, Greek and Ottoman ancient experience of baths via a series of thermal pools, warm marble beds and a wide variety of treatments ranging from an Ultimate Blossom Ritual complete with floral scrub and a floral mask with Hindu sacred flower clay to a Himalayan Salt Ritual which includes a Himalayan salt body scrub and massage, for the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation. Elsewhere, Galos Caves in Chicago’s Irving Park delivers a version of salt therapy that has been popular in Eastern Europe for centuries as it is believed to provide relief from respiratory and digestive ailments while also acting as a balm for arthritis, skin diseases and more. 

Even Chicago’s culinary scene is embracing the philosophy of wellness as many restaurants and cafes now offer nutritious and balanced meal options that cater to various dietary preferences. Additionally, cooking classes and workshops focused on healthy eating habits have become popular, providing residents with the knowledge and skills to make mindful food choices. 

With its abundance of unique offerings, Chicago’s urban wellness scene caters to every taste and need. Whether you’re seeking affordable fitness options, enticing jogging trails and bike paths, a relaxing spa experience, or a mindful practice, the city has something for you. As Chicago continues to evolve, it continues to be a destination where residents and visitors thrive not merely materially, but also spiritually thanks to a bevy of wellness havens that reflect a universal desire to lead healthier, more balanced lives. 

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Fittingly, when the more than $1 billion transformation of O’Hare’s Terminal 5 was announced, a $3.5 million public art plan was at the heart of it. Complete with new large-scale commissions by artists such as Nelly Agassi, Jonathan Michael Castillo, Assaf Evron, Krista Franklin, Wills Glasspiegel and The Era Footwork Crew, Jenny Kendler, Mayumi Lake, Yvette Mayorga, Cecil McDonald Jr., Ebony G. Patterson, Faheem Majeed, Huong Ngo, Chris Pappan, Cheryl Pope, Edra Soto, Leonard Suryajaya, Selina Trepp, Jina Valentine, and Bernard Williams, the installation, which represents the largest single acquisition of works by Chicago artists by the city in the last 30 years, highlights the breadth and diversity of Chicago artists and creative professionals while simultaneously providing international visitors a visually arresting and welcoming first impression of what the city of Chicago has to offer. 

In keeping with the artistic spirit of the reimagined space, Delta, which relocated its services to Terminal 5 and made a $50 million investment in its new home, followed the brief and made The Gallery at ORD featuring large-scale neon art, sculpture and large-scale mixed media works featuring local Chicago artists curated through Delta Sky Club’s art program an integral part of its premium new digs. 

In addition to the gallery, the new and improve, state-of-the-art Terminal 5 boasts a dazzling new 22,000-plus-square-foot Delta Sky Club which right of the gate joins the ranks of the largest clubs in Delta’s network alongside clubs at New York’s LaGuardia and Los Angeles’ LAX airports, as well as the airline’s only international Club at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.   

At four times the size of the previous Club in Terminal 2, the sleek new lounge space seats nearly 400 guests and offers sumptuous new perks including expanded food and beverage offerings served from two buffets, including charcuterie, seasonal salads, freshly made sandwiches, hot entrees and vegetarian selections; a full-service bar serving Delta Sky Club’s standard selection of wine, beer, and premium liquors and cocktails; and a wine bar – the only one of its kind in the Delta lounge network – featuring an overhead rack holding premium whites and reds.   

Additional amenities include four premium showers, privacy sound booths for quiet work and a family room for nursing mothers. 

Beauty plus function. Has there ever been a more perfect marriage? 

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With a history that dates back to the earliest settlers of Jamestown in 1609, winemaking in Virginia predates the earliest known instance of wine production in California by nearly two centuries. Moreover, the planting of the first vines in Virginia precedes California statehood by a similar amount of time. 

Despite this significant head start, the road to Virginia’s current status as one of America’s leading wine-producing states has undeniably been a rocky one – notwithstanding the relentless efforts of everyone from the colonial settlers to our nation’s founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and George Washington to early pioneers like Dr. Daniel Norton who, in the early 19th century, finally succeeded in developing a Virginia-native grape variety that proved to be both resilient to the challenges posed by local pests and diseases and capable of producing wines of such quality that one vintage won an award for “best red wine of all nations” at the Vienna World Fair in 1873. In fact, but for prohibition, Virginia winemaking might have come to more significant prominence sooner thanks to Dr. Norton’s efforts. That said, fortunately, prohibition was only a mere bump in the road on the 400-year odyssey that has brought the state of winemaking in Virginia to where it is today. 

Over the past half-century Virginia has witnessed a remarkable resurgence and transformation in its winemaking industry and Loudoun County has been front and center throughout. What was once considered an unlikely region for viticulture has blossomed into a thriving hub for wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. 

Beginning in the late 1970s, a handful of pioneering winemakers and vineyard owners decided to once again test the waters and plant vines in what was still seen as an inhospitable environment given Loudoun County’s humid climate and clay-heavy soils. Though their efforts were met with the same skepticism that had plagued their forebears, the unrepentant commitment to experimentation of this latest band of determined adventurers laid the foundation for what was to come. 

As winemakers learned to navigate the region’s unpredictable weather patterns and clay soils, they began to recognize the potential for crafting exceptional wines that showcased the distinct attributes of Loudoun County’s unique terroir – the combination of climate, soil, and topography that defines the characteristics of the grapes and subsequently, the wine. What were once seen as challenges evolved into opportunities as winemakers honed their skills, developed strategies to enhance grape quality and embraced the diversity in grape varieties and wine styles that Loudoun County could produce. 

While traditional French grape varietals like Chardonnay, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc found their place, Loudoun County also witnessed the introduction of lesser-known grape varieties that thrive in its unique conditions along with French-American hybrids like Seyval Blanc and Chambourcin and, of course, the native Norton grape. By 1984, Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, Loudoun’s original winery, which sits atop Mt. Gilead in a rustic 19th century red barn overlooking Loudoun Valley, produced its first wines and immediately won awards. It was a trend that would continue for the sumptuously positioned winery which has since won hundreds of medals in national and international competitions alongside the rapidly expanding community of winemakers that has since sprouted up around it. 

One such winemaker in that community is Jim Law, a pioneer of Virginia winemaking, who is often credited with putting Loudoun County on the wine map. In the 1980s, Law recognized the region’s potential and established Linden Vineyards on the site of a long-abandoned apple orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 60 miles west of Washington, DC. With a deep understanding of terroir, Law introduced European winemaking techniques to create wines that reflected the unique characteristics of the land and by 1987 Linden Vineyards released its first commercial vintage. Since that time, Linden Vineyards has gone on to produce internationally praised single vineyard bottlings of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Bordeaux variety red blends that are considered to be among the finest wines produced in the county. Meanwhile, Law himself is revered, nay idolized, by local winemakers for his commitment to his craft, which has also earned him plaudits from noted wine writers including Jancis Robinson, editor of the authoritative The Oxford Companion to Wine, and longtime Washington Post wine columnist Dave McIntyre, who once described Law as “the Virginia wine industry’s oracle.” 

Another influential figure, and indeed pioneer, in Loudoun County’s winemaking scene is Doug Fabbioli, who along with his wife, Colleen Berg, established Fabbioli Cellars on a 25-acre parcel of land in the southern Lucketts area, just north of Leesburg in Loudoun County in the early 2000s. Notable for producing superior red wines, particularly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Fabbioli Cellars has also won multiple awards for a diverse range of wines including Petit Manseng, Tre Sorrelle, Tannat and Chambourcin, reflecting Fabbioli’s passion for experimentation and commitment to innovation.   

Conversely, Jennifer McCloud, another prominent Loudoun County winemaker, chose to stake her claim on history rather than innovation per se. In 1998, after acquiring a picturesque tract of land nestled in the bosom of the Bull Run Mountains, she established Chrysalis Vineyards with a focus on the Norton grape, the native American variety first developed by Dr. Daniel Norton in the 1820s. Under McCloud’s guidance, Chrysalis Vineyards has become a pioneering force in reviving and championing the Norton grape, which she designated and trademarked as ‘The Real American Grape™’.  

Through meticulous research and experimentation, McCloud and her team showcase the potential of this native varietal, crafting wines that capture the essence of Virginia’s soil, climate and, perhaps most importantly, history. Today the winery is part of a 412-acre working farm known as the AG District which is home to the world’s largest planting of the Norton grape and encompasses two other food businesses – the Locksley Farmstead Cheese Company and the Little River Bakehouse. For her efforts in reviving the Norton grape and her commitment to preserving Virginia’s viticultural heritage, McCloud has garnered acclaim as Chrysalis Vineyards has become a shining symbol of Loudoun County’s dedication to authenticity. 

The aforementioned pioneers collectively carved a path that has since been followed by a wave of new winemakers who have come to prominence in Loudoun County in recent years. Take for instance, Slater Run Vineyards, a solar-powered winery in majestic Upperville, Virginia started in 2010 by Christopher and Kiernan (Slater) Patusky, and Kiernan’s parents Bob and Alice Slater, continuing a 300-year tradition of farming by the Slater family along Goose Creek. With more than 12 acres of vines, including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, Slater Run specializes in making premium Virginia wines in a dry French style under the careful guidance of French born and trained winemaker Katell Griaud. In a relatively short period of time, Slater Run Vineyards has emerged as a hidden gem for wine enthusiasts seeking a blend of natural beauty and exceptional wine craftsmanship. 

Speaking of hidden gems, Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, is yet another family vineyard tucked away on a working farm. Beginning in 2002, the family began planting grapes as a way to preserve the family farm. By 2014, Zephania Farm Vineyard had been born and the family was producing a Cabernet Franc of such quality that it won silver in the prestigious Virginia Governor’s Cup. It was a feat that they would repeat in 2015. The charm of Zephania Farm is that the winemaking process is completely managed by the family from beginning to end with a commitment to quality over quantity. The result is wines that exemplify the expertise and passion of the family, making every sip a journey through the unique flavors of the land and its rich and wonderful history. 

Lastly, no discussion of Loudoun County’s winemaking scene would be complete without mentioning Nate Walsh, a visionary winemaker and rising star who represents a new generation of vintners.  After studying winemaking in New Zealand, Walsh returned to his family’s estate in Loudoun County to establish Walsh Family Wine in Purcellville in 2014. With rapid fire speed, Walsh became known for his hands-on approach and commitment to precision and the wines he produced reflected both traits and more. Local acclaim and international recognition soon followed, and many would say today that Walsh Family Winery is the go-to winery in Loudoun County because of Walsh’s efforts. 

Adding fuel to the growth of Loudoun County’s winemaking in recent decades has been the fact that it has coincided with the rise of the region as a destination for culinary tourism and cultural attractions. As wineries gained recognition for their high-quality wines, they also became magnets for visitors seeking a holistic experience. Many wineries incorporated tasting rooms, farm-to-table dining, and cultural events, enriching the county’s cultural tapestry. The integration of wine with local cuisine and art further elevated Loudoun County’s appeal, drawing visitors not only for the wine but for the immersive experiences offered. Today, as Loudoun County celebrates 40 years of winemaking, the county can proudly claim to not only be the home of more than 50 wineries, but also a burgeoning cultural mecca in the heart of one of the most picturesque and visually arresting corners of America. 

The evolution of Loudoun County’s winemaking industry over the last 40 years stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, ingenuity and audacity. From the tentative steps taken by the early pioneers to the vibrant and diverse wine landscape that exists today, the journey has been one of growth, adaptation, and innovation. Loudoun County’s winemaking success story is an inspiration for regions that dare to dream beyond conventional boundaries, showcasing that with determination, creativity, and a deep appreciation for the land, even the most unlikely locations can thrive in the world of wine. As the county continues to raise its glasses to the future, it does so with a legacy of passion, excellence, and a commitment to continuously uncork the potential within its flourishing vines. 

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“My wife is the architect and designer, as well,” Dang explains of the dynamically laid out space noting that the design of the restaurant was very much a family affair. “We joined two buildings together. [The] tables and chairs [were] made by my aunt and uncle in Vietnam. The metal doors came from Vietnam, as well. They were handmade in the ’30s…They are what Vietnam used to have, to protect the house(s) …and whatnot,” Dang continues. 

However, despite his recent triumphs, things have not always gone smoothly for Dang on his journey to culinary acclaim. Born in Vietnam, Dang and his family immigrated to America and settled in Virginia, where they worked tirelessly to create a better life for themselves. Uncertain of his future, Dang belatedly took the advice a high school teacher and enrolled at L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland. That experience combined with his love of cooking earned him a place in series of top restaurants from D.C to Chicago, where he honed his craft.  

Finally, at the age of 27, Dang opened his first restaurant, Embeya in Chicago’s West Loop, with the help of his family and a few partners. Like HaiSous, Embeya, which focused on “Progressive Southeast Asian” cuisine, was an out of the gate hit. In its first year Dang’s debut hotspot was named Best New Restaurant in America by Esquire magazine and began attracting attention from many corners of the culinary world. 

Then things went horribly awry. 

“Long story short, my partner embezzled all my money and left the country on me,” Dang states flatly. 

“It was crazy. Talk about a dark place in life, “Dang says of the difficult two years that followed the ordeal, which found the burgeoning culinary superstar unemployed and consumed with legal actions. “But at the time, Danielle [my wife] and I, all we had was each other. And she said, ‘You know what? We could always do it again. And no matter what, it was your talent that got us here, and so let’s do it again. And I’m going to design your restaurant for you.’” 

And that is precisely what they did and continue to do. Only this time, Dang and his wife are in complete control. 

“Our work here still continues,” Dang replies reflecting on his current success and his past professional pitfalls. “We learned a lot. I always tell people that it’s like getting your master’s [degree]and paying a big tuition. But the plus side is [now]I don’t have a partner. I don’t have someone that is not in the operation, that tells me when the dividends are coming…when the profit-sharing is coming. When is this and that? I lost a lot… [But now] I have a lot of freedom. I can do whatever I want, my wife and I. But we take it one day at a time, and we build our team up and show them that anything is possible.” 

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“Chicago is one of the top culinary destinations in the world—one which we’ve been excited to join 

for many years,” remarked José Andrés on the opening of his newest Chicago outposts. “We can’t wait to add these new concepts to the city, and there’s no better place to do so than from the Loop and overlooking the Chicago River!” 

And based upon the initial reception received by the two radically different concepts, Chicago has also been eager to embrace Andrés’ latest offerings. Spread over two floors of prime real estate and anchored in the gleaming new Bank of America Tower, the tallest commercial building to be added to the Chicago skyline in 30 years, Chef José Andrés stunning new restaurants take the notion of surf and turf to an unprecedented new level. 

Bazaar Meat, which dominates the top floor of the space, is a carnivore’s dream wrapped in a theatrical reimagining of a traditional steakhouse. Unlike the previous iterations of Bazaar Meat, the Chicago edition was not designed by Phillippe Starck but instead by Barcelona-based designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán who has created over 40 distinguished interiors for some of Spain’s most successful restaurants, boutique hotels and retail establishments. 

“We love Philippe,” says Bazaar Meat General Manager, Christopher Bugeya. “[But] for this Bizarre, I think they really wanted to…go Spanish. Lázaro Rosa-Violán… has done a lot of restaurants and things of that nature so I think that matching up with Catalonians for a restaurant ended up working out well. They love to play with texture and height and it’s dramatic. The colors and the space really look like you’re walking into the hearth, the fire, these blowing embers on the inside.” 

The notion of Bazaar’s dining room evoking the sense of blowing embers is actually a very real one as a handmade IPSOR oven, one of only two in the U.S., provides a dramatic “fire stage” used for preparing the suckling pig that is one of the highlights of the meat intensive menu. This handsome and dramatic oven, which took three Spanish gentlemen three days to build and install is also used to grill and/or roast everything else on the menu from poultry and fish to vegetables and the exceedingly rare Vaca Vieja (Spanish for “old cow”), which is prepared using hand-selected eight- to ten-year-old working cows, known for their more pronounced flavor. 

In stark contrast, on the first floor at Bar Mar, the more accessible of the two eateries where guests are initially greeted, the menu focuses primarily on beautiful seafood and cocktails, served in a spacious, airy space with a buzzy, Mediterranean vibe. While a massive octopus, also designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán, hangs from the ceiling acting as a showstopping centerpiece in the dining room, 40-foot floor-to-ceiling windows peering out over Upper Wacker Drive play their own part in adding drama to the Bar Mar experience. Atmosphere aside, it is ultimately the food that takes center stage at this unique boîte. Menu highlights include the Everything Bagel Airbread served in the shape of a fish, filled with cream cheese espuma and topped with smoked salmon, the Not so Po Boy José! featuring a fried oyster with Platinum Malassol caviar and tartar sauce in a steamed brioche bun, a Margarita Oyster, and Cobia “Rosa” Ceviche. 

Despite the differences in the two spaces, however, they are both bound by their innovative cuisine, the sense of whimsy that has become one of the hallmarks of José Andrés establishments and, of course the legendary service for which those establishments have become known.  

“[Here] everybody’s a VIP. Every single person is important. We need everyone to leave here happy,” Bugeya emphasizes. “It’s just a fact. They’re going to leave here happy, whether or not they want to. We’re going to do everything within our power to make that possible.” 

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The son of Ghanaian immigrants, Abloh, by all accounts never set out to be a pioneer. But, then again, few pioneers do. In fact, from time of his birth in Rockford, Illinois in 1980 through his completion of a degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison followed by a master’s degree in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Abloh’s life appeared set on what can best be described as a more traditional trajectory. That is, until he met fellow Chicago-native Kanye West while completing his master’s degree in the early aughts. By 2002, thanks to reportedly skipping his final critique at the Illinois Institute of Technology in order to meet with Kanye’s business manager, West had named Abloh his creative director and so began the meteoric ascent of the man who would help turn luxury fashion on its ear. 

The creative collaboration between West and Abloh turned out to be a boon for the careers of both men. As West’s now multi-billion-dollar brand began to blossom so did Abloh’s forays into fashion and DJing. Abloh launched his first brand, Pyrex Vision, and honed his artistic vision with various projects including the launch of a retail space gallery. However, it was a notorious round of gate-crashing at the 2009 Paris Fashion Week shows, followed by Abloh joining West for an internship at the Fendi headquarters in Rome, where he first captured the attention of Louis Vuitton CEO, Michael Burke, which would set in motion a most portentous series of events for the young creative. In 2010, on the heels of their Italian internship, Virgil became the creative director of Kanye’s creative agency, DONDA, where, among a multitude of other projects, he designed some of Ye’s  most memorable album covers, along the way scoring a Grammy nomination for his work as the art director behind the album Watch the Throne by Jay-Z and Kanye. 

In 2014, Abloh debuted his Off-White collection in a revolutionary show that negotiated a harmonious marriage between streetwear and luxury fashion that shook the fashion world and won rave reviews. And by 2015, Off-White was nominated for the prestigious LVMH Prize. When Louis Vuitton found itself in need of an Artistic Director for its menswear collection in 2018, they turned to the man who had captivated their CEO during his internship at Fendi nearly a decade before and in one of the most buzzed about fashion events of the decade, Virgil Abloh became one of only two Black designers to land a leading design role at a Paris fashion house. That same year Abloh was named one of Time Magazine‘s 100 Most Influential People, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago presented Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech, the first museum exhibition devoted to Abloh’s work in 2019. 

Only months before his death on November 28, 2021, LVMH acquired a majority stake in Off-White and named Abloh an executive consultant with responsibilities across the LVMH group. It was yet another monumental step forward for the Chicago native who had forged such a bold and innovative path to the highest reaches fashion. The world will never know what Abloh might have achieved or how he might have contributed to the evolution of fashion. But what we do know is that his work and his example will live on as a shining beacon of possibility and inspiration for all that come behind him. 

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London 

Strictly by the numbers, London is arguably Europe’s art capital. With a total of more than 330 art events throughout the year, 300+ art galleries and an auction turnover of nearly $2 billion in 2021, few other destinations in the world, let alone in Europe, even come close to matching London’s prominence on the global art scene.  

Numbers aside, however, London’s status as one of the world’s most important art capitals is buttressed by the fact that it is not only home to some of the buzziest contemporary artists of the day, but also attracts both top drawer artists who want to show their work as well as the serious collectors and art afficionados most interested in purchasing that work. This is all, of course, in addition to the fact that London harbors an extraordinary collection of museums as well as an impressive line-up of some of the most important art fairs in the world. 

Topping the list of London’s most notable museums is the Tate Modern. Dramatically housed in the former Bankside Power Station on the banks of the Thames, Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art, showcases over a hundred years of art, from modernism in the early 1900s, to exciting works created today. This includes paintings, sculptures, and more made by artists all over the world ranging from Picasso, Rothko, DalÍ, Pollock, and Warhol to Emily Kame Kngwarreye, and Jenny Holzer. Highlights of the upcoming season include a towering forest-like display of woven fiber sculptures by Polish artist Magdalena Abakonowicz and a rare survey exhibition highlighting the abstract sculptures of Prague-born Slovak artist Maria Bartuszová. 

Another showpiece on London’s museum scene is the Victoria and Albert Museum, which together with the nearby Natural History Museum and Science Museum forms part of what is known as the “Museum Quarter” in South Kensington. Always a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, the V&A is widely acclaimed as the world’s leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects, books and archives that span over 5,000 years of human creativity.  

Beyond holding many of the UK’s national collections and housing some of the greatest resources for the study of architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewelry, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre and performance, the V&A regularly hosts blockbuster temporary exhibitions that have become the toast of London. On the heels of recent hit shows such as displays celebrating Christian Dior, Tim Walker and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this season’s stellar roster of displays includes Re:Imagining Musicals, a display celebrating the glittering world of musical theatre, exploring the evolution and craftmanship of iconic musicals, from Miss Saigon and My Fair Lady to modern classics SIX the Musical, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. 

As with museums, London is also no slouch when it comes to art fairs, of which the city annually hosts many. On tap for 2023: The London Art Biennale (July 26 – 30, 2023), which presents over 300 artists from all traditions and lines of thought, emerging and established, in a celebration of contemporary art on the historic King’s Road in Chelsea; Frieze London and Frieze Masters (October 11–15, 2023), which is considered the most important contemporary art fair in London and features over 170 of the most exciting contemporary art galleries in the world; the venerable PAD London art fair (October 10–15, 2023), which takes place in Mayfair’s Berkeley Square, and showcases a mix of modern art, photography, glass and ceramics, fine art and jewelry, featuring galleries from countries across Europe, North America and Asia; and Decorex (October 8–11, 2023), Europe’s leading interior design show which returns to Olympia London for its 45th edition this year. 

Lastly, when it comes to the ultimate in artsy accommodations in London, look no further than Mayfair’s ultra-chic, 45-room, art-filled 45 Park Lane which is a self-described “potent, living canvas for an evolving collection of work by contemporary British artists.” Apart from the hotel’s current exhibition of contemporary photographer David Bailey’s iconic portraits of legendary musicians, tracing movements from jazz and early rock-and-roll to punk, Britpop, and hip-hop captured over the past six decades, Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant The Cut inside the 45 Park Lane hotel boasts 16 of Damian Hirst’s limited edition ‘Diamond Dust Psalms’ series hanging together for the first time. Talk about giving new meaning to the phrase, ‘a room with a view’. 

Berlin 

Like London, Berlin is a city rich with art. In addition to museums dating back nearly two centuries brimming with historically significant collections and artworks, Berlin also boasts an abundance of contemporary art offerings alongside a plethora of urban street art and a litany of noteworthy annual art events. 

With respect to the former, Berlin’s Museum Island, with its five museums imposingly set on Spreeinsel (Spree Island) in the heart of Berlin, is the largest museum ensemble in the world. In tandem with the modern James Simon Gallery, the five world-famous museum buildings, dating back to the time of Prussian rule in 1830, form a heady ensemble that was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999.  

Among the works of art in the dizzyingly exciting collection are inestimable treasures ranging from the 3,000-year-old bust of Nefertiti (Neues Museum) and the Babylonian Ishtar Gate with the Processional Way (Pergamon Museum), which can be traced back to 575 BCE and the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar II, to world-renowned works such as The Monk by the Sea by Caspar David Friedrich and The Thinker by Auguste Rodin (Alte Nationalgalerie). Elsewhere in the expansive complex there’s even sculpture, jewelry, vases and coins from Greek and Etruscan art, as well as from the Roman Empire (Altes Museum). 

In stark contrast to the hallowed Museum Island, many of the streets of Berlin are in and of themselves massive open-air galleries blanketed with towering, oversized murals, some of which, like the Molecule Man in the Spree and the mosaics on the outer walls of the Haus des Lehrers, predate German reunification and trace their roots back to the GDR. Of particular note is Bülowstraße in Schöneberg, home to the Urban Nation Museum for Urban Contemporary Art, where a profusion of national and international urban art icons generously display their handiwork all over the street and on the ever-changing façade of the museum itself.  

There’s also the open-air gallery on the Spree, the longest section of the Wall still standing; the street art around Mehringplatz, which includes several intriguing murals by internationally renowned artists including one by Shepard Fairey (“Make Art not War”), the artist behind the iconic Hope poster for Barack Obama’s 2008 election campaign; and Teufelsberg, a former US spy station that has been transformed into the largest street art gallery in Europe. 

In terms of art festivals, Berlin more than lives up to its reputation as Europe’s burgeoning new art capital courtesy of a plentitude of annual and biannual art festivals. Chief among these is the Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art, a biannual happening inspired by the Venice Biennale which has become one of the most important international forums for contemporary art, and Berlin Art Week, an annual platform and major collaboration between the most important institutions in the Berlin art world ranging from museums to exhibition houses, fairs, private collections, project spaces, and numerous galleries.  

Finally, for the most perfectly stylish accommodations in Berlin, look no further than the stunning luxury boutique hotel SO/ Berlin Das Stue, ensconced in the former Royal Danish Embassy and located in the middle of the embassy district – near the Landwehr Canal in direct proximity to the Berlin Zoo. In this exquisite property, art and fashion intersect flawlessly. 

The hotel’s logo and uniforms were designed by Viktor & Rolf; portraits of iconic personalities like the Klitschko brothers, Wim Wenders, Franka Potente, Naomi Campbell and Duran Duran taken by acclaimed photographer Christian Thomas line the corridors of the hotel; wire mesh animal sculptures by Milan-based artist Benedetta Mori populate the hotel’s common spaces building a bridge between the property and the neighboring zoo; and a huge crocodile sculpture crafted by multiple award-winning Parisian artist Quentin Garel presides over the reception area, welcoming each guest as they enter the hotel. All of this plus proximity to Kurfürstendamm, the most famous shopping street in Berlin and the natural beauty of the idyllic Tiergarten.  

How bad can that be? 

Miami 

In a small cache of destinations around the globe, the art most closely associated with a city is a direct reflection of the character and lifestyle of the city itself. Miami is without question such a place. 

From its clean, contemporary architecture and skyline to its varicolored, multicultural neighborhoods and iconic beaches lined with swaying palm trees, sun-drenched Miami is a city where modernity marries seamlessly with the cultural diversity that infuses every element of life in this world class destination.  

Case in point, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) which is located in Downtown Miami’s Museum Park overlooking Biscayne Bay. The critically acclaimed structure designed by Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron houses an impressive collection of 20th and 21st century art with an emphasis on works that relate to Miami’s ethnically rich community as well as Latin America, the Caribbean and the African diaspora. In addition to exploring the museum’s three floors of galleries comprised of nearly 3,000 permanent collection pieces plus additional rotating exhibits, art enthusiasts are invited to continue their exploration outdoors in the museum’s lush hanging gardens where large scale sculptures commingle with the native hammock garden. Now, if that doesn’t scream Miami, I’m not sure what does. 

Similarly, in the edgy, hipster Wynwood Arts District, a veritable treasure trove of works by groundbreaking artists can be seen throughout the neighborhood and at Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum dedicated to street art that perhaps captures the raw creative energy of Miami better than any other space in the city. 

Meanwhile, over in the über chic Design District, the Institute of  Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA) through an energetic calendar of exhibitions and programs, and its singularly curated collection, provides an important international platform for the work of innovative local, emerging, and under-recognized artists, while The Bass Museum, located in the heart of South Beach steps away from the ocean, focuses on multidisciplinary exhibitions of international contemporary art by mid-career and established artists reflecting the spirit and international character of Miami Beach.  

Though Miami hosts numerous art events throughout the year, none can match Miami Art Week, which takes place annually each November and features over 20 art fairs (including the exclusive Art Basel, CONTEXT Art Miami and Design Miami), over 1,200 galleries and thousands of artists. Growing in popularity with each passing year, this event has become one of the most (if not the most) buzzed about annual art event in America, attracting thousands of art collectors and buyers, VIPs, art lovers and tourists from all around the world all gathered in the name of art as well as more than a few celebrity-laden fashion, music and cultural parties and galas. 

Mexico City 

Art has not perhaps always been front of mind for most when contemplating travel to Mexico City (CDMX), but the last few decades have seen the city enjoy a renaissance of sorts and art has played a major role in shaping the contemporary face of this vibrant, colorful, evermore cosmopolitan megalopolis. At the heart of the bustling city’s revivification has arguably been Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, whose Museo Soumaya is the shining star among Mexico City’s constellation of notable museums. 

Completed in 2011, the gleaming, architecturally arresting museum named for Slim’s late wife who passed away in 1999, has fast become one of the most visited museums in all of Mexico. And with good reason.  

Not only is the magnificent six-story structure home to Slim’s large, eclectic private collection of over 66,000 pieces of art, ranging from significant works by the likes of Henri Matisse, Pierre-August Renoir, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Vincent van Gogh and El Greco to works by Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera, Alfredo Ramos Martìnez, Juan Soriano and Francisco Toledo, it also houses the largest collection of sculptures by Auguste Rodin outside France as well as the world’s largest private collection of his art, alongside the world’s largest collection of pre-Hispanic and colonial era coins, among an assortment of other treasures valued at nearly $1 billion. 

That said, Mexico City’s current art boom cannot solely be attributed to Carlos Slim because art has been at the heart of life in the city for decades. Long before the Soumaya helped transform the city’s exclusive Polanco neighborhood, Frida Kahlo and her husband, Diego Rivera, put the city on the map as an artist’s haven. In fact, their former home, Casa Azul, in the Coyoacan district still stands today as testimony to this fact as thousands of tourists regularly flock to the space that nurtured the creative genius of its acclaimed former inhabitants. Correspondingly, the Museo Nacional de Antropología in the famed Chapultepec Park which was completed in 1964 and showcases the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican artifacts has long been, and continues to be, a paean to Mexico’s rich artistic history. 

Likewise, the annual Zona Maco Design Fair in Mexico City, widely hailed as the most important contemporary art fair in Latin America, has played a significant role in adding to the artistic allure of the city over the last two decades. Founded in 2002 by Zélika García, Zona Maco holds four events annually at Centro Citibanamex in Mexico City:  Zona Maco México Arte Contemporáneo brings together leading and emerging national and international art galleries; Zona Maco Design, established in 2011, exhibits furniture, jewelry, textiles, limited editions and decorative objects; Zona Maco Salon created in 2014, exhibits antiques; and Zona Maco Foto which features vintage, modern and contemporary photography since 2015.  

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Tucked away in the heart of the greater Utah Valley, the scenic town of Provo resides against the dramatic and imposing backdrop of Mount Timpanogos — one of Utah’s most recognizable mountains noteworthy for its nearly 5,300 feet of prominence and 11,752-foot summit — which is widely considered to be the centerpiece of the Utah Valley stretch of the Wasatch Mountain Range. Consequently, it will come as little surprise then that the mountain is one of the highlights of any visit to Provo, particularly among hiking enthusiasts. 

Though the hike to the summit of Mount Timpanogos is not for the faint of heart – averaging around 7 – 10 hours to complete the grueling round-trip hike of approximately 15 miles – it is arguably Utah’s most popular mountain hiking destination. Two trails are commonly used to reach the summit. The first is the picturesque Aspen Grove Trail, which runs 8.3 miles one way, starting at the Theater-in-the-Pines picnic area on the mountain’s east side, passing several waterfalls along the way. The second is the Timpooneke Trail which also leads to the summit, running about 7.5 miles one way from the Timpooneke Campground in American Fork Canyon.  

Along both trails, expect to be wowed by the spectacle of nature. While wildflowers in abundance line both trails, wildlife is no stranger to hikers en route to the summit of the mountain. Mountain goats, deer and big horn sheep, all existing in their natural habitat, are just a few of the animals hikers can expect to encounter on the trek. In addition, as if the magnificent vistas and sense of accomplishment were not gratification enough, an Instagram-ready snowfield that never melts awaits on top of the mountain as an added bonus for the efforts of those that successfully complete the hike. 

All that said, if strenuous hikes are not your thing, Provo offers scores of other outdoor recreational activities to fill out the perfect itinerary for a visit to Utah’s third largest outpost that do not require the same amount of arduous effort. Provo Canyon, for instance, is home to Bridal Veil Falls, Vivian Park and the Provo River Parkway which, along with other stops, collectively provide an exceptional year-round destination for outdoorsy adventures.  

In the summer, Bridal Veil Park and its stunning 600-foot waterfalls serve as a picture-perfect backdrop for plentiful biking, mountaineering, rafting and hiking opportunities and in the winter morph into a must-visit destination for ice climbers from around the globe. An excellent way to experience all that the Canyon has to offer is to go for a jog or bike ride along the Provo River Parkway, a paved trail from Vivian Park in the Canyon to the Shops at Riverwoods, a collection of the area’s most unique local boutiques and restaurants nestled among prominent national retailers. In total, the journey runs about eight miles one-way along a very scenic route that follows the Provo River to the mouth of the canyon. 

The Parkway also conveniently flows directly into Utah Lake State Park. Known as Utah’s largest freshwater lake at roughly 148 square miles, Utah Lake provides a variety of recreation activities including swimming, boating, and paddleboarding as well as fishing access for channel catfish, walleye, white bass, black bass, and several species of panfish. Additionally, for campers who want to stick around for a while and enjoy the natural beauty of the area, the park hosts an RV campground consisting of 31 sites, complete with water and power hookups. 

Meanwhile, a different type of exploration and adventure awaits in downtown Provo which is the throbbing heartbeat of activity in the city. Brimming with everything from karaoke and comedy clubs to all manner of retail shops, downtown Provo is also the epicenter of the town’s diverse food scene. With more than 200 restaurants, Provo boasts one of the most eclectic multicultural food scenes in the Intermountain West thanks in no small part to substantial international student and faculty population at Brigham Young University where students hail from 46 different countries.  

Within the roughly mile and half downtown corridor, you’ll find Brazilian, Peruvian, Mexican, Native American, Indian, Korean, Pacific Islander, and Japanese eateries alongside a variety of other restaurants. From artisan woodfired pizzas, authentic curries and scratch-made kolaches to Native American Southwestern inspired hog jowl nachos, award-winning chocolate and old-fashioned ice cream, all these mouthwatering treats, and so much more, can be found in Provo. 

The other thing that you can expect to find in downtown Provo is history in the form of the Provo Downtown Historic District, a 25-acre area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This charming quarter is comprised of 43 buildings, the majority of which were built between 1880 and 1930. Though many of the buildings cannot be entered, self-guided tours of the district that offer a tremendous and interesting way to explore the history of Provo, and indeed the American West, through the town’s architecture are available. 

Other significant highlights on tap in Provo include the family friendly Thanksgiving Point, which is home to the Mountain America Museum of Ancient Life, one of the largest dinosaur museums of its kind, featuring one of the most valuable dinosaur collections of its kind, including a 150 million-year-old dinosaur egg and 60 complete dinosaur skeletons. Also with family fun in mind, there’s Evermore Park, a year-round fantasy adventure experience designed to mimic the look and charm of a classic old European village and hamlet. Complete with relics spanning the 15th to early 19th century, the park’s style is largely influenced by the art and culture of Medieval and Victorian times with a dash of ancient Celtic appearing in the gardens.  

So the next time you’re planning a trip to Utah, be advised that a world of wonder and brilliant new experiences that you may not have considered awaits in Provo, a gem of a town bursting with culture, cuisine, history, nature and wildlife. Now if that doesn’t sound like a most excellent escape, I’m not sure what does. 

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Adopting a novel approach to the quadrennial sporting mega-event, Paris 2024 aims to reimagine the Olympic experience by departing from traditional stadium venues and integrating sports into the very fabric of the city. To this end, a full 80 percent of competition venues, hosting 22 sports, will be located within a 6-mile radius of the Olympic Village, which will itself be anchored a convenient 4 miles north of the center of Paris and just over a mile from the famed Stade de France. 

Moreover, the Paris 2024 Games will embrace not only the heart of Paris, but the whole of France celebrating the country’s many regions as well as its rich and diverse heritage. The football tournament, for example, will be played at six stadiums in other regions across France: Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille, while the handball’s final phases’ games will be played in Lille, along with the basketball qualifications’ games, as sailing heads to Marseille. Meanwhile, for the first time in history, the Games will even benefit overseas territories and their communities, with Teahupo’o in Tahiti set to stage the Olympic surfing competition against the idyllic backdrop of the magnificent waves that have brought the island acclaim the world over. 

With the Games just over the horizon, here is a look at just a few of the showstopping venues set to take center stage at the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer. 

Paris Olympics 2024: The Venues 

Paris: The Seine 

Obviously, Paris is the host of the 2024 Olympics. However, in keeping with the mission to incorporate the Games seamlessly into the tapestry of the city, the French capital and its famed Seine River will both serve as venues in their own right for the upcoming Paris 2024 Games. 

Breaking with convention, the opening ceremony for this year’s Games will take place not in a stadium but in the heart of Paris, along its main artery, the Seine. The ceremony’s parade of athletes will be held on the City of Light’s most renowned waterway, with boats for each national delegation, equipped with cameras to allow television and online viewers to see the athletes up close. Wending their way from east to west, the 10,500 athletes will cross through the center of Paris, ultimately landing in the overall playing field for the Games in Trocadéro. Moreover, eighty giant screens and strategically placed speakers will allow all attendees to partake in the surreal atmosphere of this show which will reverberate throughout the city’s streets. 

Set to become the largest ever held in the history of the Games, the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics will be open to all with no admission fee for most its spectators, in what is yet another first for this year’s event. 

Eiffel Tower Stadium/Champ de Mars Arena 

What better way to simultaneously celebrate the 2024 Olympic Games and Paris than to incorporate the city’s most prominent, recognizable and symbolic landmark, the Eiffel Tower? 

While the Eiffel Tower will provide a memorable setting for both the men’s and women’s beach volleyball tournaments which will take place in the open air right next to the Iron Lady, the Champ de Mars Arena, a 100,000 square foot temporary building located on the famous grassy lawns between the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire, will host the judo and wrestling competitions. 

Palace of Versailles 

The Palace of Versailles, or the Château de Versailles as it is formally known, was originally built as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, before being transformed into an awe-inspiring palace by his son, Louis XIV throughout much of the 17th and 18th centuries. It has since become an enduring symbol of French opulence and grandeur and, for the Paris 2024 Games this UNESCO World Heritage site, with its sprawling gardens and ornate architecture, will find new life as an Olympic venue. 

This summer, the former royal residence will host equestrian and modern pentathlon events held in a temporary venue located in the sumptuous garden of the Palace and will also be seen by marathon runners as the route of the 42,195km race weaves from Paris to Versailles and back to Paris in honor of the Women’s March on Versailles, a protest during the French Revolution. 

Place de la Concorde 

Place de la Concorde, one of the most notable public squares in Paris, has, throughout history, borne witness to innumerable significant events and national celebrations, including the victory celebrations at the end of the First World War and the Liberation of Paris in WWII. It is also the home to the Luxor Obelisk, the oldest monument in Paris. 

In the shadows of history, old will meet new, as all urban sports, from 3×3 basketball and breaking to BMX freestyle and skateboarding, converge in a temporary urban park erected in the fabled square. 

The Grand Palais 

Built for the Exposition Universelle in 1900, the Grand Palais, a stunning glass and steel structure designed by renowned architect Henri Deglane, is a love letter to the grandeur of the Belle Époque era. Currently in use as a museum, art gallery, exhibition and concert hall, for the Paris 2024 Games it will serve as the venue for fencing and taekwondo events. 

Stade de France 

With a seating capacity of nearly 80,000, the Stade de France, located in the suburb of Saint-Denis, is not only the largest and most well-known stadium in France, but also among the largest stadiums in all of Europe. For more than two decades, the state-of-the-art facility has witnessed historic sporting moments, including the 1998 men’s FIFA World Cup. This summer the arena will provide an electric setting for yet more history as it hosts the closing ceremony for the 2024 Olympics, as well as the rugby sevens and several athletics events, including track and field. 

Roland Garros Stadium 

Named in memory of French aviator Roland Garros, the high temple of tennis has provided a showcase for some of the most mythical moments in tennis history over the 95 years it has hosted the French Open. Spread over nearly 30 acres and 18 clay courts, the stadium’s Simonne Mathieu and Suzanne Lenglen Courts will host tennis events at the Paris 2024 Games, while the Philippe Chatrier Court will host both boxing and tennis. 

Beyond the Olympic venues, there is, of course, much to see and do in Paris this summer. From exploring the city’s seminal icons, encompassing the Arc de Triomphe, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, to sampling its celebrated gastronomy scene, complete with everything from Michelin-starred eateries to chic local cafés and tantalizing street food markets, Paris earns its reputation as one of the world’s most fascinating cities in spades. 

Throw in the City of Light’s unparalleled museums like the Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum wherein resides Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo amid a multitude of other treasures; the Musée d’Orsay, with its outstanding collection of Impressionist paintings by Monet, Renoir and Cezanne, among others; and the Centre Pompidou (also known as Beaubourg), with its impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, and visitors to Paris will find themselves spoilt for choice during this summer’s Olympic festivities.  

Likewise, a stroll or a cruise along the romantic and arresting River Seine, a shopping excursion on the fabulous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, an exploration of the mysterious Paris catacombs or a languid afternoon lounging about Paris’s beautifully maintained public parks like Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne, are also among the excellent diversions without which no visit to the French capital would be complete. 

The 2024 Olympics in Paris will be more than just a sporting event; they will be a celebration of human achievement set amidst captivating and historic landmarks, exquisite cuisine, and enough memorable experiences to last a lifetime. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, an art aficionado, or a devoted Francophile, Paris has something magical on tap this summer that will both delight and inspire. So why not soak in the spirit of competition, explore the city and, as the French say, laissez le bon temps rouler (let the good times roll)? 

Let the games begin. 

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In this storied hood steeped in history, charming European-style cobblestone streets and alleyways like the iconic Captain’s Row, the oldest cobblestone block in the city, intersect with the 244-year-old Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, one of the earliest and least-altered homes in Alexandria, the existence of which can be traced back to the American Revolution. 

Likewise, Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant, one of the oldest taverns in the United States and the oldest restaurant in the City of Alexandria, first opened its doors in Old Town back in 1792 and frequently played host to George Washington and the first five presidents. Even the local newspaper, the Alexandria Gazette Packet, one of the oldest continually published newspapers in America, was originally founded in 1784. 

However, if there was ever a case of the past serving as prologue for a destination, Old Town Alexandria most certainly fits the bill. 

Today Old Town is more than an homage to the past. It is instead a vibrant hub and dynamic part of contemporary life in Alexandria seamlessly interwoven with a nationally designated historic district on a dramatically reimagined Potomac River waterfront. All of which helps to explain why Old Town was recently voted one of Travel + Leisure’s  Best Cities in the U.S. as well as a Condé Nast Traveler Top 5 Best City in the U.S. 2022. 

One of Old Town’s main draws is King Street, home to the largest collection of independent boutiques in the D.C. region. Along this walkable mile lined with centuries-old architecture, visitors and locals alike flock to the more than 200 restaurants and boutiques concentrated dab smack in the heart of downtown. From curated collections of antiques, stationery and vintage barware to jewelry, sustainable fashion and high-end consignment shops, expect to find a diversity of shopping options on or just off King Street. Correspondingly, and in keeping with the ‘old meets new’ ethos of Old Town, also expect to find popular national brands like Simon Pearce, West Elm, Lululemon and Warby Parker commingled with local favorites along this historic thoroughfare. 

Shopping aside, Alexandria’s bustling and ever-evolving waterfront is perhaps the area’s most seductive attraction. Blending historical authenticity with a multitude of new developments, Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront offers a magnificent vantage point from which to enjoy a stroll, take in scenic views of the Potomac River and Washington, D.C.  or simply enjoy a cocktail while dining al fresco at one of the many exciting new restaurants and bars that have taken up residence along the shores of the Potomac. And if looking out at the view isn’t stimulation enough, set sail and get a change of perspective with water taxis and river cruises by City Cruises anchored by Hornblower, which offers scenic commutes between Alexandria and the National Mall, The Wharf, Georgetown, Nationals Park, George Washington’s Mount Vernon and National Harbor. 

Also located on the Potomac River waterfront in Old Town Alexandria is the world-famous Torpedo Factory Art Center. Built in 1918, this former naval munitions plant once manufactured torpedoes during WWII. Today, however, it is home to the nation’s largest number of publicly accessible artists’ studios under one brilliantly creative roof comprising 82 studios, seven galleries, and more than 160 juried artists working in a diversity of media, from painting to ceramics and from fiber to printmaking. While the studios offer patrons the opportunity meet and mingle with artists and get an up close and personal look at their work, the Target Gallery serves as the Torpedo Factory’s own exhibition space, which rotates exhibitions featuring national and international work. Meanwhile the Post-MFA Residency Studio allows patrons to explore the work of up-and-coming artists and the New Project Studio provides a destination for exploring the work of under-represented voices. So whatever your artistic bent or inclination, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is a venue rife with possibilities for discovery. 

Speaking of possibilities and discovery, Alexandria encompasses more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated green outdoor public spaces, several of which are located in and around Old Town on the historic Potomac waterfront and begging to be explored. Founders Park, for instance, is a peaceful riverside garden in Old Town Alexandria just three blocks north of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, where the public can stroll along the shore, walk their dogs, play volleyball, have a picnic and generally enjoy the splendid scenery of Northern Virginia. There’s also the dockside Harborside/Shipyard Park with its views of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and National Harbor; Jones Point Park, located just south of Old Town Alexandria on the Potomac River where you’ll find the last remaining riverine lighthouse in Virginia dating back to 1855; Waterfront Park, in the heart of Old Town, a peaceful respite with a statue of a ship builder, old anchors, and a monument to fallen policemen; and Tide Lock Park  home to the “Promenade Classique,” a neoclassical sculpture among waterfalls and pools by French sculptors Anne and Patrick Poirier. 

When it comes to accommodations in Old Town, the options reflect the neighborhood itself -ranging from the truly historic to the thoroughly modern. Among the more historic offerings is the famous George Washington Town House in the center of Old Town, just a one block walk away from King Street and a short walk to the waterfront, the museums, restaurants, shops, public library, farmer’s market and City Hall. Though the house itself is a reproduction of the original town house built by George Washington in 1769 (the original was unfortunately demolished in 1855), the property does sit on the original site used by George Washington primarily before the revolution. The town house offers three levels with two bedrooms on the top level, a living room and dining room on the main level, and a kitchen and family room on the English basement level. As an added bonus, the property also offers two parking spaces on the far side of the storage shed (formerly a stable) and off of “Washington Way” where Washington himself was known to have approached the property by horse.  

How’s that for history? 

Just around the corner on King Street, the past meets the present yet again as the cobblestone streets and storied buildings give way to the modern luxury of whimsical retreats like the Lorien Hotel & Spa and its award-winning restaurant, BRABO Brasserie; the stylish Morrison House Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection, a boutique hotel bubbling over with yesteryear period charm; and The Grace, a thoroughly contemporary apartment hotel, ideal for extended stays. 

Meanwhile, over at the waterfront, the boutique Hotel Indigo takes a cue from Old Town’s original residents who found inspiration in the Potomac River. Perched on the banks of what was once one of the busiest ports in early America, both the Hotel Indigo’s sleek guest rooms and its rustic chic Hummingbird restaurant overlook the water taking full advantage of the history and majesty of the property’s environs. 

Finally, continuing the theme of old meets new, a multitude of buzzworthy dining options reflect both sides of the coin in Old Town. At King & Rye on King Street, a menu of seasonal Southern American cuisine made from scratch with the highest-quality regional ingredients, served alongside a fine selection of whiskeys and bourbons hearkens back to the simplicity of a different time albeit with a modern twist. Ditto for the waterfront’s Ada’s on the River, which draws inspiration from the ingenuity of Ada Lovelace, one of the greatest mathematicians of the 19th century, and features a menu highlighted by wood-fired prime steak and fresh seafood prepared in a custom wood-burning oven. 

In contrast, BARCA, one of Old Town Alexandria’s newest riverfront restaurants, brings a fresh Catalonian coastal influence to the neighborhood with a menu of Spanish-Mediterranean small plates, wine, sangria, and cocktails. While the acclaimed Vermilion helmed by chef Ben Pflaumer offers deceptively simple modern American cooking using local, farm-raised products in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. 

Something old, something new – Old Town Alexandria provides a shining example of why the two make a perfect marriage. 

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