The Artful Life: 7 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From a bespoke private dining experience by Raffles and Christofle in Boston to an inspiring wellness program curated by Novak Djokovic at Aman New York
1. Raffles and Christofle Launch Bespoke Private Dining Experiences
This holiday season, the opportunity to intimately dine in style has arrived for those visiting Raffles Boston. Running through June 2026, the luxury property has partnered with storied French silver and tableware maison Christolfe to offer limited-edition private dining experiences for parties of up to ten people. As part of the package, guests will be transported to the hotel’s Presidential Suite, where culinary director Jim Reuteman has crafted an extravagant and personalized menu complemented by a glamorous table setting imagined by Christolfe. Following its debut in Boston, this collaboration will travel to Le Royal Monceau from July 2026 through the end of the year. For those seeking to experience this themselves, don’t fret, more properties will be announced for 2027. —Shelby Black
2. Olson Kundig–Designed Thompson Seattle Debuts Sleek Penthouses
Perched directly above Pike Place Market, Thompson Seattle already claims some of the city’s most commanding views across Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains, a vista that has long drawn guests to its rooftop bar, Nest. The Olson Kundig–designed hotel has now extended that elevated experience with two 1,000-square-foot penthouse suites set atop its signature glass lantern. Conceived for extended stays, each suite reads as a refined private residence complete with an expansive bedroom, open living and dining areas, a fully equipped kitchen outfitted with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and spa-inspired bathrooms, along with the rare luxury of an in-suite washer and dryer. Seattle firm Haus + Home shaped the interiors with warm woods, rich leathers, and earthy modern accents that echo the hotel’s namesake suite, while floor-to-ceiling glazing frames the city and water beyond. Art curated by Julianne Johnson and Austin Hicks of XO Seattle reinforces a strong sense of place, pairing Akin Olugbade’s street photography with original works by Ariel Parrow, Zachary Schomberg, and Sean Hamilton, alongside gig posters by Carlos Ruiz that salute Seattle’s legendary music history. —Ryan Waddoups
3. MoMA PS1 Becomes New York City’s Largest Free Museum in 2026
Beginning January 1, 2026, MoMA PS1 will offer free admission to all visitors in a program made possible by a gift from Sonya Yu. The three-year initiative, which coincides with the institution’s 50th anniversary, will make MoMA PS1 the largest free museum in New York City. “I have always believed that building authentic creative communities is a powerful force for social change,” says Sonya Yu. “That’s why supporting MoMA PS1 is so important to me. Under Connie Butler’s leadership, PS1’s commitment to authentic community building and expanding access is a shining example of how institutions can build bridges and foster genuine inclusion. As a proud Chinese immigrant and a mother, I’ve seen firsthand how access to art can directly shape imagination and change perspectives. I hope this contribution helps to inspire new generations to see themselves in art and experience its incredible power at PS1.”—Alexandria Sillo
4. Octola Private Wilderness Offers New Arctic Circle Lodge Perfect for Viewing the Northern Lights
The holiday season is often when intrepid travelers look to experience Antarctica, due to its favorable ice conditions, long stretches of daylight, and peak wildlife activity. However, adventurers embarking on an even more magical polar exploration should head north, to the Arctic Circle, where Octola Private Wilderness oversees a selection of individual lodges perfect for an immersive trip into the remote region. The newest, Octola II, is situated off the grid on 1,730 acres of unspoiled landscape in Lapland, Finland, where guests can take in snowy vistas and unobstructed views of the aurora borealis in complete serenity. Inside the five-bedroom retreat, visitors can unwind in front of the fireplace, gather in the convivial cigar lounge, or rejuvenate in one of the three saunas. The Northern Lights can also be seen from within the property’s glass-enclosed viewing area, making the getaway an otherworldly trip, indoors and out.—Jill Sieracki
5. Staud and St. Regis Aspen Introduce a Winter Capsule Collection
Inspired by the sporty elegance of the hotel’s annual St. Regis Snow Polo World Championship, which was held just before the holidays, Staud has created a limited-edition winter capsule collection that performs on the slopes while looking chic enough for après-ski. The pieces include a plush pullover fleeced with an unmistakably Aspen pattern, a shearling purse that personifies mountain chic, and a long-sleeved shirt with a skier taking flight. —Jacqueline Terrebonne
6. Aman New York Kicks Off 2026 Wellness Goals with Detoxification Program by Novak Djokovic
Available now at Aman New York, this three-day program, personally curated by tennis icon Novak Djokovic, is a chance to reset and restore your wellness like a pro. The program, which includes a 120-minute Banya experience, cryotherapy and intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia treatment, meditation, yoga, and more, takes place across the hotel’s three-story wellness center and spa, and can be tailored to the length of stay and individual needs. “It is a way of life, and it is a way of better life,” says Djokovic, who joined Aman as Global Ambassador and Wellness Advisor in 2024.—A.S.
7. Frama Opens a Pine-Clad Coffee Bar in Copenhagen
The Scandinavian-meets-organic sensibility espoused by Copenhagen studio Frama has struck a chord in Copenhagen and beyond, with the brand recently expanding its retail footprint to Tokyo and designing a live-in studio for filmmaker Albert Moya in Florence. That ethos now finds one of its most vivid expressions in Cabin, an intimate Copenhagen coffee bar conceived as a deliberate retreat from the bustle of Store Kongensgade. Developed with restaurateur Riccardo Marcon and Frama founder Niels Strøyer Christophersen, the café serves as the sole Danish outpost offering a continuous program from Tim Wendelboe, prepared by Jun Nishimura, with baked goods by former Noma chef Dhriti Arora, who also helms Frama’s 16-seat Bar Vitrine.
Nodding to Le Corbusier’s Cabanon at Cap Moderne and Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, the pine-lined interior embraces simplicity as a means of focus. Frama furnished the narrow, light-filled room with a mix of built-ins and signature pieces, including floor-fixed Table 57 tables, Petit Rond stools, and window seating made with 01 stools, all positioned to capture daylight from generous windows at both ends. Solid end-grain pine flooring developed with Dinesen lends rustic charm, while cushions in Astrid textiles and Kvadrat upholstery introduce subtle color and texture. Audio comes via speakers from Audio Vector and a selection of artworks by Franca Christophersen are currently on view, completing a tightly edited environment where nearly every design element serves the ritual of enjoying coffee. —R.W.