A new study finds looking at art reduces stress, the food world steps in to offset the impending lapse in SNAP funding, and the countdown to BDNY is on. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
SNAP is in trouble—here’s how restaurants are responding
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Amid an endless government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed there will be no funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beginning tomorrow, November 1st. More than 41 million Americans will be impacted, with food banks nationwide already feeling the strain due to increased demand from federal workers experiencing a lapse in payment. Luckily, the food world is stepping up. In a recent newsletter, Eater outlined active efforts across the country to support those in need. In addition to localized work by Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen to feed federal workers in Washington, DC or Bay Area restaurants offering free food to SNAP recipients, broader assistance is also mobilized. DoorDash has launched the Emergency Food Response initiative through which SNAP recipients can order groceries with waived delivery, service, and merchant fees. Moreover, chef Sophia Roe took to Instagram with advice on food insecurity, while recipe site Budget Bytes shared thrifty solutions to help those in need prepare for SNAP disruption. Wanna know who else is helping? You. If you’re reading this with the knowledge you won’t be going hungry any time soon, please find local food banks where you can donate food or funds or look up a nearby mutual aid network to help support your neighbors with food insecurity, and more. We’re all each other has. Let’s look out for one another.
Lily Allen and David Harbour’s Brooklyn brownstone is back on the market
Remember back in 2023 when multihyphenate star Lily Allen and the irredeemable cad David Harbour gave us a glimpse into their love nest with an Architectural Digest Open Door tour? Well, the five-bedroom Brooklyn brownstone is back on the market, AD reports. Crafted by designer Billy Cotton and architect Ben Bischoff, the maximalist Carroll Gardens abode touts abundant color, ornate patterns, and cozy architectural flourishes from expressive moldings to bed nooks. The listing coincides with the launch of Allen’s new album West End Girl, which tracks the dissolution of the couple’s marriage. If you buy it, be sure to sage it.
Feeling stressed? Go to a gallery
A spiral staircase inside the Courtauld Gallery in London; photo courtesy of Delphotostock/Adobe Stock
If you’re feeling unmoored lately, you might consider paying a visit to your favorite museum or gallery. According to Artsy, a new study from King’s College London and the Art Fund found that art can lower stress and stimulate emotional engagement. The study followed 50 adults between the ages of 18 and 40 from July to September of this year, and found that those who viewed original artwork by Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin at London’s Courtauld Gallery saw an average cortisol drop of 22 percent. An average of only 8 percent was measured for those who viewed reproductions in a controlled setting. Levels of stress-related proteins fell by nearly a third in the gallery group as well. Anyway, if you see me crying at the Met, no you didn’t!
James Turrell launches largest Skyspace yet
Built in 2012, Twilight Epiphany Skyspace by James Turrell is located on the Rice University campus in Houston; photo courtesy of Christopher/Adobe Stock
If you happen to be roving the planet in an effort to visit each of James Turrell’s immersive Skyspace installations, you have a new stop to add to your itinerary. The artist will launch his largest Skyspace yet with As Seen Below – The Dome, set to debut at the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum outside of Copenhagen in June 2026, Hypebeast reports. The project will span 130 feet in width and 52 feet in height, ensconcing visitors in a dome field of shifting color while a circular aperture at the apex will frame the sky.
Last call! Submit to Best of BDNY Product Design Competition
Soft Surrounds from Phillip Jeffries, the Wallcovering category winner in the 2024 Best of BDNY Product Design Competition
Today is the final day to submit to the 2025 Best of BDNY Product Design Competition. BDNY is less than two weeks away, and in addition to a slew of great talks and events on the agenda, this year’s awards program will, once again, recognize manufacturers and products that demonstrate functionality, aesthetic progress, and innovation. Learn more about how to submit and to meet this year’s esteemed judges. See you on the show floor!
