Christina Bohnstengel

An estimated 97,000 guests attended nearly 300 events over 11 days in Palm Springs, California. The occasion luring lovers of aesthetics to the desert: Modernism Week, a biannual celebration of mid-century architecture and design.

Oversized installations, ever-changing abstracts, 20th-century Modernists, and a curation of contemporaries adorn these decks.

On a Celebrity cruise, luxury is the standard. When it comes to accommodations, that means so much more than a place to lay your head. Think onboard private retreats with the contemporary feel of a boutique hotel.

The most stunning libraries around the world are shrines to the printed word and more.

Explore the captivating imaginary worlds the auteur brings to life. The award-winning film director, screenwriter, and designer extraordinaire possesses an innate aesthetic so distinctive, so visually intriguing, so storybook retro-chic, it’s now popping up everywhere—from small-town tourism campaigns in Claremont, California, to the dimensional reality of an Anderson-designed, uber-quirky, Italian café.

Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Zaha Hadid, is showing no signs of slowing down or toning down. Bucking the status quo from a young age, the Iraqi-British architect entered the starchitect stratosphere after taking center stage in 2004, when she won the industry's highest award. And she was the first woman ever to do so.

While the heart and soul of America’s most glamorous street is the two-block stretch between South Santa Monica Boulevard and Dayton Way, Rodeo Drive is surrounded by so many luxury boutiques and flagships that the entire area has been named the Golden Triangle, and it annually generates more than $1.3 billion in sales.

You may have thought it was time to say sayonara to awards season. But before you roll up the red carpets and pack away the gala gowns, we have an announcement.

It was way back in 2006, in the good old days of prosperity and flashy displays of wealth, when we first sat down with the man we dubbed "the king of cool," Ian Schrager. Flash forward four years later and the success of Schrager's Gramercy Park projects serve as a testament to his dynamic staying power in a fickle world of instant gratification, as well as his ability to lead the culture of modern-day America.

EPIC Residences & Hotel has made quite a splash on the Miami scene since opening its doors in early 2009. Located at the convergence of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay, it has become one of the haute spots that is redefining the area. Contributing to the buzz of this luxury locale is the permanent art collection displayed throughout the property. Diana Lowenstein, owner of the eponymous Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts (DLFA) gallery, along with her daughter, Flavia Lowenstein-Elortegui, personally selected works from various artists.

As Miamians, our appetite for entertainment can be quite insatiable. We have been catered to and coddled to such an extent that nothing short of novel creative genius will impress us anymore. Thankfully, the powers that be heeded our call to raise the bar on what constitutes the good life, and luxury boutique hotels, sexy supper clubs, and international dining venues have risen up like shining beacons of pleasure.