T’s final issue of 2014 is full of surprises. In our cover story, the 11-year-old actress Quvenzhané Wallis, star of the new “Annie” remake, takes us roller skating and proves that, sometimes, the best things do come in small packages. In London, Jody Rosen follows a man through “The Knowledge,” the grueling — and, some might say, anachronistic — years-long qualification process to become one of the city’s cab drivers. In a sunnier locale, we explore the all-night debauchery of Ibiza, where an influx of billionaires and celebrity influencers is bent on reinventing the island’s image (if not tamping down its fun). And in a 19th-century castle in rural Ireland, we pay a visit to the controversial, duck-obsessed artist Gottfried Helnwein, whose tight-knit clan and macabre digs call to mind a real-life Addams Family. Elsewhere, Andrew O’Hagan pours one out for sobriety, with mixed results; a lifelong devotee of the Vermont Country Store waxes nostalgic on its down-home charms; Hollywood’s hottest stars make a break for Broadway; and in the spirit of the season, we share a compendium of covetable gifts made by under-the-radar artisans from around the world. See all stories from the issue >>
Spain’s sexy little island continues to live up to its reputation for illicit extravagance, from its wild characters to its all-night beach bacchanalia. But now, thanks to a monied mix of royals, moguls, politicians and celebrity revelers, it’s on the brink of reinvention.
From intoxicating nights of drunken possibility to the grisly hangovers and the guilt. One writer ponders saying goodbye to it all.
The Spanish artist Miquel Barceló closely examines the basic materials of life in response to Edward Hirsch questioning his own belief in a higher power.
A statistical look at the blood, sweat and baubles involved with one of the season’s most beloved traditions.
From a Marie Antoinette drinking bowl, modeled after her breast, to a shepherd’s blanket hand-loomed in Portugal, the most special gifts each have their own story to tell.
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky. They’re altogether ooky. Meet the Helnweins.
As much as Broadway now relies on Hollywood actors to bring in the crowds, so A-listers increasingly view stints onstage as integral to a rich career. Here, seven award-winning actors on their new roles.
Roller skates, pizza, math class and an Oscar nomination: the life of an 11-year-old movie star.
As the days grow colder and darker, one writer finds contentment in the company’s frugal, anachronistic and entirely unflattering wares.
From ornate confections to extravagant centerpieces, the mood is decadent, and the table is set.
For a design-obsessed couple, the chance to mix furniture by Charlotte Perriand and Vladimir Kagan with Mayan pottery, bright tiles and local textiles — and to return home — proved irresistible.
Two cherished chefs of New York’s downtown restaurant scene, Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, are joining forces in the kitchen. Finding happiness in fried artichokes and tagliatelle.
As the holidays approach, indulging in the irony of the hue feels absolutely delightful.
Memorizing the city’s 25,000 streets might be the most difficult test in the world. As technology imperils this tradition, is there an argument for learning as an end in itself?