The 2025 Latin American Foto Festival Grapples with Extremes
In the present political context, in which these communities are especially vulnerable to violence, injustice and displacement, the festival feels especially lucid and meaningful.
The Indian Supper Clubs You Can’t Get Into
Michelin training, Royal Dansk tins, four-hour meals: The Sewing Tin and The Salon have turned New York’s supper club scene into the city’s most sought-after table.
Mark Morris’ Latest Work at The Joyce Is Pure Delight
‘You’ve Got to be Modernistic’ marks a jubilant high point in Mark Morris Dance Group’s 45th anniversary season.
Art
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At Kunstmuseum Basel, Medardo Rosso’s Radical Dismantling of Form
Placing process before final form, the artist radically redefined traditional notions of sculpture at the end of the 19th Century.
One Fine Show: ‘Little Beasts: Art, Wonder and the Natural World’ at the National Gallery of Art
Works by Jan van Kessel, Albrecht Dürer and others show how the tiniest animals once inspired grand ideas about the natural world’s design and divine order.
Hauser & Wirth Spotlights Luchita Hurtado’s Underrecognized Geometric Word Paintings
The artist’s late-life rediscovery—through galleries in L.A., London and beyond—belies the years she dedicated to her practice.
The Indomitable Berthe Weill, Forgotten Champion of the Parisian Avant-garde
She had an uncanny eye for excellence and played a pivotal role in shaping the early careers of some of the 20th Century’s most iconic artists.
Julian Charrière’s ‘Midnight Zone’ Channels Abyssal Intensity to Inspire Ecological Awareness
“I see art as a medium of encounter. Not just with nature, but with forces greater than ourselves,” the artist told Observer.
Lifestyle
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The Best Oyster Bars in Los Angeles, From Casual Counters to Coastal Chic
Aww, shucks! From seafood towers to oyster shooters, these are the top raw bars in L.A.
The 30 Best Summer Hats for Men Who Value Style and Sun Protection
Beat the sun in style with the most dapper hats, whether you’re into city-proof visors or beach-grade buckets.
Where to Indulge in the Best Caviar Service in Los Angeles
Discover the most luxurious caviar experiences in L.A.
The Mainland Greece Hotels Giving the Islands a Run for Their Money
Skip the island ferries. These design-forward mainland hotels offer mountain-meets-sea views and a slower, more rooted kind of luxury.
How Tariffs Are Reshaping the Jewelry Industry, and What It Means for You
Olga González, gemologist and communications strategist, examines how rising tariffs and shifting global trade policies are reshaping the jewelry industry—from pricing and production to sourcing and supply chains. In a moment of profound transition, González argues, transparency, adaptability and values-based leadership will define the next chapter of the jewelry industry.
Culture
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Manhattan Theatre Club’s Lynne Meadow On Staging Her Next Chapter
Under Meadow’s leadership, Manhattan Theatre Club premiered dozens of landmark plays and earned Tony, Pulitzer and Obie honors.
The 10 Funniest Books to Read When You Need a Lift
Need a pick-me-up? These books are guaranteed to make you smile.
Silver Lion Winner Karimah Ashadu On Art, Resilience and Making Her U.S. Debut
“Whether I’m thinking of translating sculpture in film or about film as embodying sculptural or painterly qualities, they’re all in dialogue with each other,” the artist told Observer.
Meet Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, One of the Patrons Shaping the Future of Art in the UAE
“We have the energy and appetite for innovation that come with youth, but we are also grounded in deep tradition,” the ADMAF founder tells Observer.
Review: The Deliciously Dark ‘Heathers’ Is Back Off-Broadway
Beyond its sociological themes, the show is a ton of stylish, well-crafted fun with top-notch acting and top-to-bottom earworms.
Business
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5 Billionaire Philanthropists Pool $1B to Help Low-Income Americans with A.I.
Five major philanthropists team up to invest in tech-driven solutions for struggling Americans.
The New Tech Nationalists: Silicon Valley’s 2025 Power Play
As Elon Musk and Peter Thiel expand their reach into military, disaster response and city development, governments find themselves increasingly reliant on private tech firms for essential services once considered public goods.
PepsiCo Focuses on Healthier Snacks Amid Trump-Era Policy Changes
From portion control to prebiotics, PepsiCo is revamping its portfolio for a cleaner, healthier future.
Netflix Profit Soars, Gears Up for a Blockbuster-Heavy Second Half of 2025
Netflix’s winning formula of higher prices, global hits and ad growth powers a standout quarter.
Tariff-Related Volatility Is Fueling Trading Revenue Across Wall Street Banks
Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and other major banks post massive trading gains as market volatility defines Trump’s economic landscape.
Art Market
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Aspen Art Week 2025 Brings Dual Fairs, Deeper Local Ties and Broader Prestige
“We really try to embrace the town,” Hoffman tells Observer. “We believe an art fair should be part of the community—not just for the weekend, but for the entire year.”
How New Perspectives Art Partners Plans to Reshape the High-End Art Market
“The way things were done in the past has largely outlived its usefulness,” Philip Hoffman of The Fine Art Group tells Observer.
Auction Insights: What’s Behind the Rise in Single-Owner Collection Sales
Auction houses are increasingly spotlighting individual collectors to attract bidders and elevate prices.
What If the Art World Isn’t Collapsing But Changing Hands as It Should?
We need to start looking at prominent gallery closures as a natural passing of the torch.
Art Basel Qatar Prepares to Upend the Traditional Fair Model With a New Artist-Led Format
The format, already explored in Panorama and set to be adopted by Art Basel in Doha, allows galleries and artists to engage with collectors more deeply.
Art Reviews
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‘Hoa Tay (Flower Hands)’ Searches for Cultural Assimilation in New Orleans
The exhibition comes short of grappling with the complex history of the American South, slipping instead into tenderheartedness for a place that is no longer home.
Ali Cherri Honors Life, Loss and Defiance in ‘How I Am Monument’
Wide-ranging works illustrate the artist’s range and capture the exhibition’s parable: what is destined to live will die, as what dies may rise again.
Ten Upstate Art Weekend Exhibitions That Justify the Drive
From barn-side group shows to forest installations and long-awaited museum retrospectives, these ten shows make the journey north a must for city-dwellers chasing fresh air and sharper cultural programming.
MoMA’s “Face Value” Invites Us to Turn a Critical Eye Toward Our Image-Obsessed Culture
“Celebrities are products,” curator Ron Magliozzi tells Observer. “They were actually properties of the studio, and they were treated as such.”
In Menorca, Cindy Sherman’s Cinematic Take on Womanhood
“Cindy Sherman. The Women” at Hauser & Wirth traces the artist’s persistent interrogation of gender, artifice and identity.
Luxury Travel
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The Greek Island Hotels That Actually Live Up to the Dream
From Crete to Koufonisi, these design-forward hotels trade clichés for calm, craftsmanship and a slower way to see the Aegean.
Nantucket’s Best Hotels, From Island Icons to Compelling Newcomers
From private porches to spritz service, these hotels define summer on Nantucket, whether you’re staying for a night or the season.
The Okura Tokyo Balances Modern Luxury With Japanese Tradition
The Okura Tokyo embraces quiet elegance and enduring Japanese hospitality.
Sun, Sand and Surf: L.A.’s Most Noteworthy Beachfront Hotels
Whether you’re a first-time visitor hoping to experience a true SoCal summer or a landlocked local in need of a seaside escape, these are the best Los Angeles hotels for hitting the beach.
How to Explore Cape Cod Like a Local
The eight Cape Cod towns that are actually worth visiting—and what to do there.
Nightlife & Dining
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Discover New York City’s Most Exciting July Restaurant Openings
Coal-fired pizza, Korean seafood and unapologetic maximalism—because your reservation list deserves an upgrade.
L.A.’s Power Lunch Revival: The Smart and Sophisticated Spots for Midday Meals
Forget sad desk salads—this is where business, luxury and lunch come together in Los Angeles.
Dolores Blends Bed-Stuy Charm With Mexico City Cantina Culture
With its vibrant menu and nostalgic cantina design, Dolores offers Bed-Stuy a taste of Mexico City—without the reservation hassle.
Amsterdam’s New Culinary Era: The 15 Best Places to Eat and Drink
A culinary guide to Amsterdam, a city redefining its cuisine.
L.A.’s Buzziest July Restaurant Openings
From a gourmet sandwich shop to the expansion of one of the city’s favorite Thai concepts, these are the best new L.A. restaurant openings of July.
Style
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Jet Set: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Travel Wish List
From a sleek Away carry-on suitcase and viral duffle bag to the most luxurious mini skincare set and a dependable—but not heinous—backpack, these are the best travel pieces from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale that we’re loving and coveting right now.
Mixed, Measured, Maximal: Inside Mestiza’s Fashion Philosophy
For founders Alessandra Perez-Rubio and Louisa Rechter, Mestiza a blueprint for balancing dual identities.
Fred Savage Isn’t Here to Kill the Romance of Watches—He’s Here to Certify It
Flipped, faked, over-certified: the luxury watch world has seen it all. Fred Savage, burned once himself, now believes the future isn’t about killing the romance—it’s about grading it, sealing it and making sure the right story lasts.
Indie Cool and Effortless Edge: How Daisy Edgar-Jones Became a Style Star
From bohemian frocks to custom Gucci suiting, Daisy Edgar-Jones has evolved from indie ingénue to red carpet force.
The Best Cream Blushes for a Dewy, Radiant and Sun-Kissed Summer Glow
Skip the sunburn—these cream blushes fake the flush better than the real thing.
Theater
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Review: Trust the Darkness, But Follow the Light in Spooky ‘Viola’s Room’
Conceived and directed by Punchdrunk’s chief wizard Felix Barrett, Viola’s Room is an audio-guided indoor son et lumière.
Review: A Hot Mess and a Sex Pest Go on a Date in ‘Lowcountry’
If you arrived late and left five minutes early, you might say it crackles along in a noirish vein, but taken as a whole, the drama leaves you hanging.
Mark Linn-Baker On Bringing Molière’s ‘The Imaginary Invalid’ to Life
“It may be 400 years old, but it lasts! It’s funny stuff,” Linn-Baker, who worked with Jesse Berger on the project, told Observer.
Review: Jean Smart Can’t Save the Overwrought and Underwritten ‘Call Me Izzy’
Smart deserves roles that deserve her. Izzy is not one of them.
Review: John Krasinski Grapples With Gender Politics and Modern Masculinity in ‘Angry Alan’
Penelope Skinner’s provocative script explores the emotional weight of identity and the shifting terrain of gendered expectations.
Opera
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In 2025’s Love & Power, the Boston Early Music Festival Unearths Another Baroque Rarity
Each edition of the festival mounts as its centerpiece a fully staged revival of a near-forgotten opera—in 2025, BEMF chose Reinhard Keiser’s ‘Octavia.’
Two Symphony Orchestras Tackle Wagner’s Supreme Masterpiece and Strauss’s First Opera with Mixed Results
The American Symphony Orchestra returned recently to Carnegie Hall with the underrated ‘Guntram,’ championed by conductor Leon Botstein.
In the Met’s Many Revivals, Sometimes Second Casts Finish First
In many cases, the second, third and even fourth casts surpassed the season premieres that tend to attract the most attention.
‘Three! Seven! Ace!’: The Met Goes All in On ‘Queen of Spades’
Elijah Moshinsky’s vivid production is a winner.
Heartbeat Opera’s ‘Faust’ Finds the Humanity (and Humor) in the Hellish
Sara Holdren’s production shifts the focus to the women in Faust’s wake.
Dance
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From CARMEN.maquia to Creative Black Tie, Ballet Hispánico’s Emerald Gala Dazzled
The company’s 55th anniversary bash mixed high culture with high energy—plus a whole lot of glitz.
ABT’s Summer Season Brings ‘The Winter’s Tale’ to the Met
The production is visually stunning, with sets and costumes designed by Bob Crowley, projections by Daniel Brodie and silk effects by puppeteer Basil Twist.
“I Become a Human When I Consume Art”: A Conversation with Choreographer Felipe Escalante
His Tabula Rasa Dance Theater is bringing dances centering the experiences of Mexicans in their homeland and abroad to El Museo del Barrio.
Paul Taylor Dance Company’s ‘Tablet’ Is an Archaic Courtship, Staged Anew
“It feels fresh, feels unique. I love it when the curtain goes up and the audience doesn’t know what they’re about to see,” artistic director Michael Novak told Observer.
At Oslo Opera House, a Celebration of Jiří Kylián’s Creative Vision
The ‘Wings of Time’ festival is the most expansive Kylián retrospective to date.
Tech
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Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s A.I. Startup Hits $12B Valuation in Just 5 Months
Thinking Machines Lab is the latest high-profile A.I. venture launched by an OpenAI alum.
What Happens When A.I. Agents Take the Corner Office?
Ahmad Shadid, founder of O.XYZ, explores how the rise of agentic A.I. is transforming executive leadership faster than many companies are prepared for. Drawing from his deep experience at the intersection of A.I. and Web3, Shadid argues that the future of business leadership won’t hinge on human decision-making speed, but on how effectively organizations deploy and govern intelligent systems with bounded autonomy.
Tesla Enters India at Last, Navigating High Tariffs and Trade Tensions
Tesla’s long-awaited India debut comes as the government considers lowering EV import duties in a U.S. trade deal.
Trump Reverses China Chip Ban After Jensen Huang’s Quiet Diplomacy
The U.S. reverses its export restrictions on China-bound A.I. chips after quiet lobbying by Nvidia’s CEO.
Who Is Ruoming Pang, Apple’s Top A.I. Engineer Poached by Meta for $200M?
At Apple, Pang led the foundation model team, which develops the A.I. systems behind Apple Intelligence.
Finance
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Jeff Bezos Names Ex-Amazon Exec Tom Taylor as CEO of $10B Earth Fund
Taylor, a longtime Bezos lieutenant, will oversee one of the world’s largest climate funds.
Jensen Huang’s Family Foundation Could Be Worth Over $10B as Nvidia Stock Soars
The Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Foundation is among the the world’s fastest-growing family foundations.
Tech CEOs and Finance Moguls at 2025 Sun Valley: So Far in Photos
The annual Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference is in full swing in Idaho.
Media and Entertainment Moguls Touch Down in Sun Valley for Allen & Co. Conference
Bob Iger and David Zaslav are among the first attendees spotted at this year’s “summer camp for billionaires.”
Regulators Start the Clock, Engineers Build the Rails: Can the Creator Economy Scale?
Murad Salikhov, founder of VC firm Schwarzwald Capital, examines the widening gap between how digital labor is evolving and how legacy financial systems still operate. As infrastructure shifts and regulators step in, Salikhov argues that the real opportunity lies with those building fast, compliant, creator-first systems designed for a borderless, digital workforce.
Media
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With a $122M Debut, James Gunn’s Superman Begins DC’s High-Stakes Franchise Reset
More than a box office bet, the film is Warner Bros.’ high-stakes gamble on long-term franchise repair.
Why Some Movies Hit Theaters While Others Go Straight to Home Screens
Box office hits, streaming spikes and data-driven pivots are redefining how films reach audiences.
Gen Alpha is Old Enough to Hit ‘Add to Cart’—Here’s What That Means for Commerce
Jed Baker, founder and CEO of Starglow Media, explores how Generation Alpha is reshaping household purchasing power, and what that means for modern marketers. Baker argues that to tap into today’s “nag factor,” advertisers must meet families where they actually connect: shared media experiences like podcasts. As screens fragment and attention spans shrink, audio emerges as a new media hearth where kids and parents still listen together.
A.I., Copyright and the Case That Could Shape Creative Ownership Standards
Brandon Bauman, a top Hollywood dealmaker and chief strategy officer at Loti AI, examines the landmark lawsuit filed by Disney and NBCUniversal against Midjourney, unpacking why this case isn’t just a flashpoint over A.I. tools, but a critical test of how well existing copyright law can protect creative work in the A.I. age. Drawing from his deep expertise in IP and First Amendment law, Bauman argues that the future of innovation depends on building the technical and collaborative infrastructure needed to enforce creative rights at scale.
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of Elon Musk’s X After Two Turbulent Years
Linda Yaccarino steered X through a turbulent period marked by financial struggles and reputational challenges.
Power Lists
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The Top PR Firms in 2025
This year’s PR Power List celebrates the agencies bold enough to lead the charge and smart enough to reflect the world they’re shaping.
The Top Specialty PR Firms in 2025
In an era where perception is currency, specialty PR firms are the brokers of influence
The Most Important People in Nightlife & Dining
These are the architects of modern indulgence, wielding influence with every lease signed and every menu unveiled. Theirs is the kind of power that turns concepts into cultural institutions.
Marketplace
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10 Best CBD Oil for Dogs: Best for Anxiety, Pain, & Arthritis
A guide to our carefully selected picks for the top CBD oils for dogs in 2025 to soothe anxiety, pain and arthritis.
10 Best CBD Gummies for Pain & Inflammation to Buy in 2025
Finding the best CBD gummies for pain and inflammation is made easy with this comprehensive review of leading brands. Colorado Botanicals earned the top spot among nine other brands that caught our attention.
10 Best CBD Companies to Buy From in 2025: Honest Reviews & Guide
Despite strong competition from nine impressive challengers, Colorado Botanicals tops our list of the best CBD companies to buy from in 2025.
5 Strongest CBD Gummies: Best CBD Gummies of 2025
We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 strongest CBD gummies for pain, sleep, anxiety and stress to save you time and money.
7 Best CBN Gummies for Sleep in 2025
Discover the top seven CBN gummies for sleep on the market, based on overall quality, effectiveness, price, formula, recognition and more.
Latest
All Latest
Apple Inks $500M Deal With the Only US Rare Earth Miner Amid US-China Trade War
Rare earths are vital to modern tech and at the center of U.S.-China tensions.
Durational Art After Dark: Joseph C. Thompson’s Next Cultural Experiment
“We believe that if the art invites you to settle in and stay awhile, it should be in a really comfortable, sociable space, more like a living room than a typical white or black box.”
Why the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program Is More Relevant Than Ever
The residency has evolved over nearly three decades to meet the shifting needs of contemporary artists while staying grounded in its founding values.
Growing Up With Cocteau: Chloë Cassens and the Collection That Shaped Her Life
Observer spoke to Cassens about her art collector grandfather, cultural revisionism and why sitting with discomfort is so important.
Forget What You’ve Heard About Mykonos—Here’s Where the Smart Money Goes on the Island
Here’s how to do the Cycladic icon like an insider, mixing scene and substance, splurge and simplicity, old soul and new style.
Google Hires Top Talent From Windsurf in Silicon Valley’s Latest ‘Acqui-Hire’ Deal
Google’s latest A.I. play shows how acqui-hires are reshaping Silicon Valley power.
TMA’s Adam Levine Is Making the Museum Model Smarter, Faster and Fairer
Under his leadership, the Toledo Museum of Art has become a case study in how cultural institutions can think like businesses without losing their souls.
The A.I. Workforce Displacement Crisis: Why Traditional Retraining Models Are Failing
Emil Barr, co-founder of education technology platform Flashpass, explores why A.I.-driven job loss is accelerating faster than traditional education systems can respond, and what scalable solutions might look like. Barr argues that without major reform, millions of workers could be left behind by a system not built for the speed or scale of the coming disruption.
The Carbon Cost of Culture: How the Art World Is Confronting Its Shipping Emissions
Alexander Bradford, who leads business development and sustainability at global fine art logistics company Gander & White, explores how the art world is beginning to confront the carbon footprint of its shipping practices. Bradford offers an insider’s look at the systemic challenges and promising solutions emerging within fine art logistics, arguing that if the art world wants to remain a cultural leader, it must also lead on sustainability.
One Fine Show: ‘Kim Chong Hak, Painter of Seoraksan’ at the High Museum of Art
In his first U.S. museum exhibition, the artist reveals the enduring power of nature to stir, soothe and surprise.
A.I. Is the New Professional Service, and the Sector’s Clock Is Ticking
Navin Chaddha, managing partner at Mayfield, joins global A.I. strategist Mark Minevich to issue a wake-up call for America’s $2.8 trillion professional services sector. Drawing on decades of experience investing in transformative companies, Chaddha and Minevich argue that A.I. isn’t a distant threat or future opportunity, but rather a present-day imperative. The choice is clear: adapt now, or risk falling behind in a rapidly evolving global economy.
A Trove of Early Computer Art Is Hiding in Plain Sight in Sotheby’s History of Science & Technology Sale
Grace Hertlein’s collection is “a kaleidoscopic snapshot of the early decades of an art historical and technological phenomenon.”
Zero Art Fair Isn’t Selling Art—It’s Giving It Away, With Just a Few Caveats
“We see the fair as a bridge between art, artists and working people who deserve to live with art,” the fair’s co-founders told Observer.
Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s Meditative ‘Clinamen’ Is a 21st-Century Urban Giverny
Tadao Ando’s architecture is a harmonious backdrop for the artist’s serene sensorial soundscape.
Hugging Face’s Climate Lead Warns Against Using A.I. for Math or Therapy
Hugging Face’s Sasha Luccioni argues that truly sustainable A.I. must go beyond efficiency to address power, equity and ecological responsibility.
Yoshua Bengio Wants to Curb the Technology He Helped Usher In
Yoshua Bengio, an acclaimed A.I. researcher, is growing increasingly concerned by agentic A.I.’s unchecked behavior.
The Empathy and Everyday Magic of Jenna Gribbon’s Milan Debut
“Painting is especially good at framing things that might otherwise be overlooked and revealing their hidden magic,” the artist told Observer.
‘David Hockney 25’ Is an Ode to His Restless Curiosity and Unmistakable Style
There’s only one thing we can readily predict when it comes to this artist: he’ll remain indefatigably prolific, and there will always be more art.