Lauren Finney Harden

Thomas Deans of Thomas Deans Fine Art talks exhibits, pivoting and more.
gallerist Thomas Deans
Gallerist Thomas Deans of Thomas Deans Fine Art had barely begun his 2020 exhibition calendar when he found himself having to pivot: “We scrapped everything—the spring exhibitions immediately, and then all the others as it became clear COVID wasn’t going to disappear anytime soon.” He knew his focus needed to be on online sales and local and regional on-approval deliveries, so he transformed his we...

Dawoud Bey: An American Project is now on view at High Museum of Art.
“A Boy in Front of the Loews 125th Street Movie Theater” Harlem, N.Y. (1976)
For 45 years, photographer Dawoud Bey has been capturing underrepresented communities and people in America. Now, the High Museum of Art (high.org), is celebrating him through its Dawoud Bey: An American Project exhibit, on display through March 14, 2021. His explorations of African American history and Black experience span from street portraits i...

We check in on Trilith—formerly Pinewood Forest—and its bevy of updates.
Atlanta-based urbanist designer Lew Oliver is behind Trilith’s stylish look.
Trilith’s (trilith.com) tag line is “Trilith is a place where makers live, create and inspire the world,” which encapsulates pretty dang well what the community stands for. Previously known as Pinewood Forest, this live-work campus originally was intended to serve nearby Pinewood Atlanta Studios (now Trilith Studios), but has since morphed into ...

There’s a lot to love in Atlanta thanks to these fresh finds.
Books ’n’ Nooks
Atlanta- and New York-based design firm Historical Concepts (historicalconcepts.com) celebrates its body of work this spring with a new book, Visions of Home: Timeless Design, Modern Sensibility (Rizzoli). Although the firm, under President Andrew Cogar’s tutelage, works on projects across the country, it has always been synonymous with elegant interpretations of modern Southern style. Whether city, country or coast...

100GROUP is changing the payment processing game—and vendor relationships.
From left , 100GROUP’s Richard Scalesse and Jeff Brodsly PHOTO BY PATRICK HEAGNEY
No business owner thinks twice about their payment processing vendor until something catastrophic happens. Jeff Brodsly and Richard Scalesse, the founders and owners of 100GROUP (100group.com), want to change that. Business owners have relationships with their financial advisors, lawyers and accountants, so why not the vendor who actually...

Dr. April Spencer is known for her eye-catching style at some of Atlanta’s best charity events, and this board-certified surgeon backs up her fashion sense with heavy-duty credentials. She is a leader in breast surgery at her Global Breast Health and Wellness Center known citywide for minimally invasive procedures. “My favorite part about what I do is having the privilege of navigating families through their breast cancer journey; inspiring them to view their cancer not as an obstacle, but as...

Alliance Theatre has long been Atlanta’s home for nationally recognized theater. Now, thanks to Trahan Architects, the Coca-Cola Stage and interior chamber have been reimagined for the 21st century, with furniture artist Matthias Pliessnig consulting on the project. By combining traditional craft skills with acoustic and 3D technology, the new visually striking—and acoustically superior—venue bows to theatergoers. Audience members are 15 feet closer to the stage than before, and seat capacity...

The newly debuted St. Regis Atlanta Spa brings an enhanced experience to an Atlanta institution.
The first thing to greet you as you enter the recently renovated St. Regis Atlanta Spa is a massive geode-inspired wall. The vibrant, modern mural sets the tone for the revamp, as does a new set of retail offerings including brands such as Sothys Paris, KNESKO and LEEF, an organic whole-plant CBD line.
The entire spa menu has been redone, with standouts including four signature massages and three ...

Here’s what to expect when you design and build with Muffley Dream Homes.
A rain showerhead, a skylight, tile by Daltile, and fixtures by Hansgrohe and Signature Hardware are a few of the Zen elements in this Dream Home master bath.
For Mikel Muffley and Melinda Chandler, The Custom Dream Home Program by Muffley Dream Homes (muffleydreamhomes.com) is a way to help the most discerning of clientele streamline their dream home buying process— from bank to land to architect, interior designer and...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with meditation teacher Carli Michelle Wright. It has been edited for length and clarity.
During my second year of law school in Chicago in 2018, I discovered meditation, breathwork, and yoga as a way to help me be productive and study; I believe it helped cure my anxiety and depression.
I started my job as a lawyer in January 2021. I went to work at what was, at the time, one of the largest law firms in the entire world. It was a very prestigi...

Sweden has higher taxes than the US, but with that comes more standardized healthcare.
In Sweden, pre- and postnatal care are covered by the government, as is your hospital stay.
While my friend in Sweden paid only for hospital food, I paid over $13,000 for my care last year.
Scandinavian countries are known for world-class healthcare offerings — and higher taxes to pay for it. While Sweden does have a higher tax rate than the United States, its healthcare is much more standardized.
A friend ...

One swipe on TikTok will likely have you stumbling across heatless curls, a style that's been sweeping the social media app. There are over two billion videos using the hashtag #heatlesscurls, and 46 million videos tagged as tutorials.
Here's the gist: every method promises a simple, five-minute time investment to prepare the hair and wrap the curls. Using (mostly) things you've probably got around the house, you wrap your hair, sleep on it, and wake up with bouncy, natural-looking hair with ...

Sister Lisa H. is a nun who has gained a large following on TikTok.
During the pandemic, a religious brother suggested she use the app for her ministry outreach.
She now primarily uses it to get a pulse on pop culture and what's happening in the world.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sister Lisa H. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I'm a nun, and I'm on TikTok. Yes, I'm allowed to be there. I want to pull back the curtain on religious life so that people can see...

When I was furloughed and pregnant in 2020, I, like many others, was addicted to TikTok. However, I wasn't on the app watching teenagers dance. I was learning how to coupon. Because I could really only go to the grocery store or drug store during this time, couponing became a way to save money and entertain myself.
Five years later, I'm proud to say that my frugal ways have helped my family save a ton of money in grocery and household costs. According to my CVS app, I've saved $2,322 in the l...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with estate settlement company founder Alexandra Mysoor. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I was primarily raised in Minnesota, and on the first day we moved there, our next-door neighbor Carol arrived with a pie, like out of a movie. Her daughter Katie is still my best friend to this day.
Carol died a few years ago (her husband had passed before her), and I was at Katie's house for the funeral. There was a to-do list fixed to the free...