The Brooklyn Mirage is set to be demolished, how Diane Keaton campaigned to preserve LA’s architectural legacy, and 50 Best reveals an extended list of top hotels. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Remembering Diane Keaton’s architectural legacy
Photo by Ruven Afanador via Wikimedia Commons
There’s much to grieve in the passing of Oscar winner Diane Keaton, but one thing you might not have expected is her contribution to architecture. According to Variety, fashion wasn’t the only design medium the star fancied. Keaton served for nearly 20 years on the board of the Los Angeles Conservancy, lending her support in the form of campaigns to save some of the city’s most historic or culturally significant addresses. She is remembered for tirelessly fighting to save LA landmarks like the Ambassador Hotel as well. Also, in addition to her stunning Spanish Colonial, Keaton also touted a Lloyd Wright property among her real estate portfolio. As we look back on a singular woman, one thing is undeniable: She had damn good taste.
The Brooklyn Mirage is closing (for real this time)
The Brooklyn Mirage’s proposed redesign, a collaboration between Avant Gardner’s in-house team, Hard Feelings Studio, and Studio Greenbank; rendering courtesy of Avant Gardner
Months of confusion regarding the fate of New York nightlife haunt the Brooklyn Mirage has culminated in official plans for the property’s demolition. More specifically, 32,000 square feet of the multilevel complex is set to be razed to the tune of $1.5 million, the cherry on top of more than $155 million that the Mirage’s parent company, Avant Gardner, owed in August when it filed Chapter 11, Curbed reports. The filing occurred amid reports that the venue was planning to undergo a $30 million redesign only to face a barrage of permitting quandaries along the way. Avant Gardner is also looking to sell assets to an affiliate lender and will propose plans for a settlement in a hearing later this month.
Travis Kelce’s new restaurant might actually be good
1587 Prime, crafted by the Noble 33 in-house team in partnership with the Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry; photo by Michael Stavaridis
Swifties now have their very own Disneyland. In case you haven’t heard, Travis Kelce opened restaurant 1587 Prime inside the Loews hotel in downtown Kansas City last month. Launched in partnership with teammate Patrick Mahomes and hospitality group Noble 33, the destination is defined by brass, marble, and soft lines, along with ornately branded elements like staff uniforms and ice cubes. While the menu includes grilled cheese and tomato soup for $27 and a 20-page wine list with bottles in the $1,000 range, The Cut reports that 1587 delivers on quality. Writer Mia Mercado praises the food and service while noting that the $241 bill run up by her and her husband was higher than their last electric bill. A nice dinner out in Manhattan will cost you around $250 these days, so if you’re game to pay New York prices in Kansas City, this is the spot for you.
50 Best reveals the World’s 100 Top Hotels
The Denniston-designed Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is ranked 51 on the World’s 50 Best Hotels extended list; photo courtesy of Aman Resorts
Elite countdown aggregate 50 Best has revealed its first-ever extended list of hotel rankings. Unveiling the back half this week, with the top 50 entries set to be announced October 30th, 50 Best shared some fascinating metrics. Based on the votes of more than 800 hoteliers, travel writers, educators, and luxury travelers, the list of 51-100 includes 13 independent hotels, with Badrutt’s Palace in Switzerland landing the highest at 52. Spanning 24 territories and 40 cities, the list features the most properties from Asia and Europe (16 and 17, respectively). Among the 12 North American picks, four are based in New York, and (yep, you guessed it) the Aman New York boasts the highest position at 61. If you want to fantasize over some luxury real estate (and if you’re reading this you probably do), dive into the list.
Meet BD’s 2025 Up-and-Coming Hoteliers
Trailborn Surf & Sound in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina features interiors by Post Company; photo by Christian Harder
Nature isn’t a luxury for Ben Weinberg and Mike Weiss, childhood friends and cofounders of hotel company Trailborn. Grounded in the belief that the natural world should be inspiring and accessible, the outdoor hospitality brand touts locations in the mountains of Colorado and the Highlands of North Carolina, with more on the way in California and Wyoming. Trailborn also boasts an elite group of design partners fashioning its stylish visual identity, including Post Company, Electric Bowery, Lake Flato, and LOVEISENOUGH. Weinberg and Weiss characterize the whirlwind proliferation of their brand as “a special type of chaos,” but really, just like in nature, timing is everything. “We’re trying to productize these moments and share it with people but keep it authentic,” Weiss adds. “The mission is to bring people to bucket list places they already know they want to go while also introducing them to new outdoor markets.” Get to know Boutique Design’s 2025 Up-and-Coming Hoteliers.
