Now through Nov. 26, explore a major new exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art dubbed Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour. Exploring the past and future of American fashion, the exhibition highlights more than 100 American designers — including under-recognized and under-represented designers — with garments from the 19th century to present day. Another exhibition traveling from the SCAD Museum of Art, Ring Redux: The Susan Grant Lewin Collection, runs through Feb. 4 and highlights 100 rings by artists from around the world who have reinvented the jewelry form with a distinctly contemporary sense of experimental craft. 1 Collins Diboll Circle, noma.org
DIY Design
Floor & Décor, a leading source for hard-surface flooring, recently opened a 70,000-square-foot store in Metairie. The warehouse-style store marks the company’s second store in the New Orleans metropolitan area and the 200th store overall. Floor & Décor offers homeowners and professionals a broad in-stock selection of tile, natural wood, natural stone, laminate and luxury vinyl plank, plus tools, decorative materials, wall tile and related accessories for hard-surface flooring projects. 3609 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie, flooranddecor.com
The Art of Entertaining
Michael Harold and Quinn Peeper, two of New Orleans’ most beloved hosts and concert pianists, have released their first book, “Classical Shindig: Amateur Artistry from the Simple to the Sublime” (Susan Schadt Press, $60). The book brings readers into the duo’s New Orleans Garden District home, recounting seasonal celebrations and lavish parties. In addition to hosting, interior design and entertaining tips, Harold and Peeper share more than 60 recipes for every occasion, QR codes for recorded movements of their concertos, illustrations by acclaimed artists Paul Cox and Tug Rice, photographs by 12 renowned Southern photographers and more. Available at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St., Ste. 8, gardendistrictbookshop.com
City Park’s New Master Plan
City Park Conservancy has partnered with landscape architectural firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc., to develop and implement a long-range master plan to address improvements and operations at New Orleans City Park. Areas of importance include serving the greater good, addressing community needs, deepening the park’s historical and cultural context, improving environmental resiliency, and creating a dynamic and enduring sense of place. MVVA will lead the 18-month planning process, with the goal of stewarding City Park throughout the next century. neworleanscitypark.org, mvvainc.com
Hotel Renovations
The voco St. James Hotel, originally built in 1833 as the Banks Arcade and, in 1859, converted into the St. James Hotel, underwent a major renovation and conversion into an InterContinental Hotels Group hotel in 2021. Bethany Deac, principal designer with VIVE Collaborative, led the redesign, which included the on-site bar and cafe (Cafe Flamant) and 84 guest rooms. Guests will find a soft color palette of light grays, golds and blues; new mattresses, linens, lamps and lounge chairs; and instances of voco’s three mascots (the finch, the owl and the flamingo) throughout the hotel. “The modern, comfortable voco hotel complements the rich history of the building throughout this renovation,” says General Manager, Aaron Pool. 330 Magazine St., 304-4000, saintjameshotel.com
Meanwhile, Le Méridien New Orleans elevated its guest experience through a multimillion-dollar renovation. This 23-story modern hotel now features updated guest rooms (410 luxury guest rooms in all), meeting and event spaces (plus a new meeting room on the second floor with a dining and pre-function area), rooftop pool deck, fitness center (with new cardio equipment), outdoor patio and the restaurant and bar, Longitude 90, plus the a grab-and-go sundries market. 333 Poydras St., marriott.com/msymd
Additionally, Homewood Suites by Hilton New Orleans, a hotel that originally opened in 2002, recently unveiled a multimillion-dollar music-themed renovation. Boston-based Group One Partners upgraded the guest rooms with new furnishings, soft goods, and wall and floor coverings. Meanwhile, Atlanta-based fine art consulting firm Faulkner + Locke chose a complete art package showcasing the city’s storied musical past. The extended-stay hotel features 166 suites (available with one or two bedrooms, each equipped with full kitchens), an indoor pool, a fitness center and 5,561 square feet of meeting space. 901 Poydras St., 581-5599, hilton.com
