Barcelona’s most famous landmark enters its final chapter, New York restaurants face mounting pressures, and an abandoned hospital becomes a canvas for healing. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Where do you wanna watch the Knicks?
An aerial view of Madison Square Garden in New York; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Designer Ken Fulk has crafted plenty of swanky arena suites, but even he can’t resist the allure of Knicks fever. Fulk told Elle Decor this week that, whether it’s a live performance or the NBA championship, he’d rather sit among the fans. The design maestro joins the ageless debate over the preference to sit in a box or sit on the floor. Despite opulent details and myriad amenities, plenty of high rollers still opt for a closer view. Timothée Chalamet, Mariska Hargitay, and Ben Stiller are courtside fixtures this season alongside the world’s biggest Knicks fan, Spike Lee. Even owners from Wes Edens to Mark Cuban agree that sitting among diehard fans yields a far more exciting experience. It’s evident that no amount of glamorous allure can overpower the chance to be part of the action—at least not during a winning streak. Knicks in five!
Barcelona’s Sagrada Família readies for completion
Sagrada Família in Barcelona; photo by Marti Segura Ramoneda
Architect Antoni Gaudi’s magnum opus, Sagrada Família in Barcelona, is among Europe’s most recognizable architectural landmarks. It’s also famously unfinished, with generations of architects and construction teams contributing to it. However, after nearly 150 years, Architectural Digest reports the basilica is approaching completion. The volume ultimately reached its final height of 566 feet earlier this year, while interiors are slated to be completed by 2028. Earlier this week, Pope Leo XIV led a mass and ceremonial blessing onsite, reflecting even further confidence in the long-delayed project’s inauguration. Yours truly also had the privilege of visiting the world’s tallest church this month, and can confirm, things are looking good.
Restaurant closures sweep NYC
Red Lobster in Manhattan’s Times Square; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
A slew of beloved New York culinary destinations have joined a growing chorus announcing imminent closures ahead of summer. Toothsome hits like Atla, Libertine, and Loring Place have each revealed plans to shutter, as have longstanding tentpoles like Tom Colicchio’s Craft and Upper East Side mecca Donohue’s. Perhaps most jarring of all is news that the Red Lobster in Times Square will be shuttering as well. The closing eateries may span a spectrum of culinary ambition and price points, but they all find themselves caught in the same vicious circle. Loring Place chef and owner Dan Kluger tells Grub Street that ConEd bills have soared 35 percent since pre-COVID, while insurance has nearly doubled. Higher operations costs often mean higher menu prices, which clearly for some, may signal the beginning of the end.
Let the healing begin at this LA hospital’s art installation
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The St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles takes art therapy to a whole new level with a recently unveiled exhibition. Through July 31st, the previously abandoned hospital invites guests to explore work from 70 artists all meditating on visions of communal healing. “Hospital of Emotions” will span 80 rooms and feature work including explosive florals from Lisa Waud and even a cardboard forest crafted by Greg Corbino. Nearly 10,000 Angelenos showed up during the exhibit’s opening weekend to support one of the city’s most historic hospitals ahead of its conversion into a full-service campus in 2028, write Colossal. Imagine—visiting a hospital and leaving without a bill to pay.
Submit to the 2026 Gold Key Awards!
Populus Denver, 2025 Gold Key Awards winner in the Eco Conscious/Socially Conscious Hotel category; photo by Jason O’Rear
Submissions are open for Boutique Design magazine’s 46th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design. From Design at Sea to Next-Gen Housing, the prestigious program honors exceptional design from across the globe in 24 categories. The deadline for entries closes July 31st, so don’t wait! Submit today and join us at the Gold Key Awards gala on Monday November 9th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York!