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"  boston Cantilevered up to the edge of Boston Harbor, the new waterfront Institute of Contemporary Art\u2014designed by white-hot architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro\u2014is poised to become one of the city&amp;#039;s most dynamic, recognizable cultural landmarks. Opening on September 17, the ribbonlike form of the glass, wood and metal building (Boston&amp;#039;s first new art museum in almost a century) will sweep visitors upward through four floors and 17,000 square feet of exhibition space. A 325-seat theater for performing arts faces the water, allowing the harbor to serve as a backdrop for the 51-foot stage. Four inaugural exhibitions have been curated for the 16-foot-high skylighted galleries\u2014an expansive, thrilling environment to equal the cutting-edge art collection, which includes works by Anish Kapoor, Andreas Gursky and Chantal Akerman (100 Northern Ave.; 617/478-3100, icaboston.org).    chicago Interior designer Michele Fitzpatrick founded the Bucktown atelier Verde to showcase her line of stylish upholstery and case goods made out of sustainable, toxin-free materials. Today, the place has become a veritable greener pasture for environmentally conscious home furnishings. Besides her own work, there are like-minded contemporary furniture lines from Chicago&amp;#039;s Celia Greiner and Brooklyn&amp;#039;s Scrap Pile; an ever-changing stash of refurbished midcentury-modern pieces; textile lines usually sold only to the trade; unusual window treatments; hand-knotted wool rugs by Missoni and Ruckstuhl; and work by a select group of local artists (2100 W. Armitage Ave.; 773/486-7750, verdedesignstudio.net).   toledo Opening its doors on August 27, the new Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio is a marvel of complementary forms and materials. The first U.S. commission for architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of the Tokyo-based firm SANAA, the structure\u2014designed using new glass fabrication techniques that allow for nearly every interior and exterior wall to be made of curved glass\u2014houses an international collection of more than 5,000 glassworks. The ethereal, low-slung clear building nestled in the trees comprises 76,000 square feet and integrates gallery space with studios, lecture spaces and two &amp;quot;hot shops&amp;quot; for onsite glassmaking (2445 Monroe St.; 419/255-8000, toledomuseum.org).   san francisco The City by the Bay&amp;#039;s North Beach neighborhood, known for its old-world restaurants, is now a destination for the latest in Italian furnishings: Dzine is a high-style store that owners Cardenio and Eve Petrucci say was inspired by Milan showrooms. Their industrial, 10,000-square-foot space covers all the bases, including furniture from Driade, Moroso and de Padova; bathroom fixtures from Agape; and the latest designs from the likes of Piero Lissoni, Ron Arad and Patricia Urquiola (128 Utah St.; 415/674-9430, dzinestore.com).   buenos aires The regal Palacio Duhau\u2014an 80-year-old palace that oozes Peron-era glamour\u2014is the site of the city&amp;#039;s new Park Hyatt hotel. Along with a new contemporary highrise located across the magnificent gardens (the two structures are connected by an underground art gallery), the hotel has 165 rooms and 39 suites that meld deco charm and 21st-century style. Local design firm Caparra, Entelmann and Petrocchi Studio fitted the majestic spaces, both new and historic, in contemporary wood furniture, with silks and leather draperies and upholstery. Rooms from $410 (Avenida Alvear 1661; +54 (11) 5171-1234, buenosaires.park.hyatt.com).   new orleans Just two weeks after its grand opening, Hurricane Katrina came along and The Savvy Gourmet\u2014a delectable hybrid of restaurant, caterer, cooking school and cookware shop\u2014became a haven for hungry New Orleanians seeking shelter from the storm&amp;#039;s ravages. At Savvy&amp;#039;s Saturday night &amp;quot;devacuation parties,&amp;quot; co-owners Aaron Wolfson and Peter Menge served hometown comfort foods (garlicky meatloaf on French bread, Creole cream cheese rice pudding) that have since become staples on chef Corbin Evans&amp;#039;s menu (4519 Magazine St.; 504/895-2665, savvygourmet.com).   new york city The British are coming to midtown this fall, where a star-studded roster of them have completed the transformation of the old Rihga Royal hotel into the posh London NYC. All 564 suites were revamped by Irish designer David Collins in tones of slate blue, white and wood, with bathrooms by Waterworks. In addition to a Golden Door Spa, the hotel also houses star chef Gordon Ramsay&amp;#039;s first restaurants in America: A formal dining room is modeled on Ramsay&amp;#039;s eponymous eatery in London, while a second, casual space serves small dishes. Rooms from $400 (151 West 54th St.; 866/656-1777, thelondonnyc.com).   minneapolis Authentic, delicious, haute Mexican food in Minnesota? Local restaurateur Richard D&amp;#039;Amico and Mexican-born chef Saul Chavez have made it happen at their Twin Cities culinary standout, Masa. With dishes like tostadas con carnitas (corn tortillas piled with roast pork) and pozole verde (chicken, pork and hominy stew), Chavez is turning simple ingredients into extraordinary flavors. The large, contemporary space is mostly orange and white, with brightly colored mosaics and fashion murals adorning the walls. Entrees from $16 (1070 Nicollet Ave.; 612/338-6272, masa-restaurant.com). Edited by Kate Walsh. Contributors include Ellen Johnson and Lisa Skolnik. DZINE: C. PETRUCCI, THE SAVVY GOURMET: ZANDE+NEWMAN DESIGN, MASA: COURTESY OF MASA RESTAURANT "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/travel/a1096/travel-metro-september-2006-19393/>