Lifestyle

Dental offices don't need to be sterile holding pens. This Beverly Hills project is plush, pink and magical

Published

1 month ago

May 12, 2025

Dental offices don't need to be sterile holding pens. This Beverly Hills project is plush, pink and magical

Can I interest you in a trip to the dentist? No? Not exactly the trip you’re looking to win on a game show, is it? Most people, myself included, fear and loathe the dentist. Maybe not the actual people, who are usually sunny and chipper in contrast to their grisly work, but certainly the actual act of being worked on by one of them. The standard dentist’s office is sterile, gray and utilitarian. Maybe there’s a poster telling you to “hang in there,” with a picture of a cat gripping a tree branch on it. Maybe they play the most inoffensive radio station they could find while you wait in a seat that looks as though it was borrowed from an airport in the 1990s. It’s not an experience designed to inspire or offer a sense of calm. It’s a holding pen for a torture chamber.

But what if it wasn’t? That’s the question Kiyan Mehdizadeh asked when he decided to renovate the 12th floor of a mid-century office building on Wilshire Boulevard for his dental practice in Beverly Hills. When Mehdizadeh — who does mostly cosmetic work like veneers, implants and gum work — committed to opening a third office for his business, he sat down and thought about what he wanted the experience of dental work to feel like. When I saw the space he created with the design firm of Charlap Hyman & Herrero — lush carpets, wooden walls, Italian Dominioni chairs and monochromatic color schemes that recall the best of 1960s and ’70s design — I referred to it as opulent. But Mehdizadeh doesn’t see it that way.

“Opulent isn’t the word I would use,” he told me over Zoom. “I like the word salubrious, like something that gives life, you know what I mean?”

A typical visit to the dentist doesn’t give life as much as it gives anxiety. Someone is going to stick a tube in your mouth, prod you with shining metal implements, and chances are strong you will bleed at some point. Worse yet, if you’re having a major surgery done, and you’re zonked on anesthetic, a room full of strangers will see you being dragged by your spouse/best friend/co-worker/bored neighbor you promised to buy dinner for on some undetermined night. Your mouth will be full of gauze or cotton balls and your eyes will be half-closed like last call at a sports bar. Mehdizadeh and the designers Adam Charlap Hyman and Andre Herrero — who work in both architecture and interior design and recently designed the 2024 New York Fashion Week dinner for Thom Browne — had an answer for that too: a circular office. Charlap Hyman & Herrero aimed to create a unique space that causes you to experience each and every room differently. Those rooms take you on a journey that inevitably leads to the exit.

You start in the lobby, head to a cozy waiting room that feels more like someone’s house than a dentist’s office, and then are shuttled to a stark white operating room filled with light from adjacent windows on the other side of the hall. When you’re done, you follow the circular path back out to the exit. The halls are lined with Mehdizadeh’s personal art collection, which includes works from Cy Twombly, Leonor Fini and more. There’s even wallpaper in the bathroom with drawings from erotic artist Tom of Finland, which certainly sets quite a tone for visitors. It’s all quite a step up from the “hang in there” poster. All of this happens in a continuous loop, without you ever being seen by another patient. No matter where you are in the office, you’re technically on your way out.

Wallpaper in the bathroom with drawings from erotic artist Tom of Finland.

“It was the design team’s idea to make this little monolith in the middle of the office with the circular hallway on the outside,” Mehdizadeh says. “[W]hen they started talking about traffic flow, they were thinking of it like the way traffic flows in a hotel hallway or in a large home or something like that. They weren’t thinking of it in terms of dentistry — they brought this completely fresh perspective.”

Dentistry should ideally be a bit private, shouldn’t it? The invasive nature of it — gaping mouths, drool and other bodily fluid on full display — makes it an activity that makes us all feel deeply vulnerable. You’re prone, strapped into one of those reclining chairs and prepped for an excruciating afternoon. At least when you were a child, there were prizes at the end if you were good. I would always task myself with being as still as possible during my cleanings. If I could be the most perfect, cooperative patient, I thought, maybe I can take two prizes from the treasure chest. I never got a second prize. One prize per child was the stated policy and there would be no deviation. Maybe that’s why I’m still so unnerved by going to the dentist. Not only is it physically terrifying, but it also reminds me of the limitations of my charm.

There is no reward for being still in Mehdizadeh’s dentist chair other than something resembling peace. What Charlap Hyman & Herrero created was a place for reflection. You can lie prone on a plush red couch and ponder the nature of existence. You can be enveloped by a floor-to-ceiling pink room that looks like something out of the Barbie movie. Every room is its own environment, carefully crafted to make you feel something magical. These waiting rooms ideally get you to a place of inner peace before your entire mouth is rattled and you potentially lose sensation in your gums. But once you’re out of the chair and on your way, you’re one step closer to aesthetic nirvana.

The perfect smile can be the key to self-esteem, to happiness, to personal connection. Even more than our eyes, our smile is the key that unlocks trust amongst strangers. A flashy, warm smile has the power to disarm. We trust dentists so that they can help us earn trust from others. How does a dentist — with their drills and picks and other tools — earn trust from a patient? Well, as Kiyan Mehdizadeh’s office proves, having good taste certainly helps.

Photography courtesy of Charlap Hyman & Herrero.

Lifestyle

Nintendo Switch 2 and launch games reviewed: everything you need to know

Published

9 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Press Room

Mario Kart World’s golden shell disperses coins to all who follow it.

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Nintendo announced that it sold more than 3.5 million Switch 2 consoles less than a week after its June 5 release. That feat makes it the fastest-selling Nintendo game system of all time. Most online retailers have run out of the console, and resellers have tagged on hundreds of dollars to the $449 MSRP on websites like eBay.

The Switch 2 will likely remain a hot item through the holiday sales season — but don’t despair. Stores get restocked periodically. Even if their websites appear empty, brick-and-mortar locations frequently have consoles reserved for in-person customers. And if you’ve logged more than 50 hours of playtime on a Nintendo account, you can line up online for an invitation to buy a Switch 2 directly from the company.

But even if you can get a Switch 2, should you buy one? Does it justify the steep cost? Are its launch games really worth it? After playtesting the console at press events and over the course of a bleary week, I’ve got answers.

The Switch 2, displayed in tabletop mode with its Joy-Cons detached.

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Nintendo’s new era

The Switch 2 improves on the first generation in (almost) every way. Nintendo has exhaustively described how, but I’ll break down the highlights.

The Switch 2 has a bigger screen and bigger Joy-Cons (though, remarkably, it’s still as skinny as the original Switch). It narrows the performance gap with its console competitors. It’s no PlayStation 5, but it is more powerful than a PS4 — and fits between your hands.

It’s also, blessedly, backwards-compatible. The vast majority of the old Switch catalog works seamlessly, though a few have special Switch 2 upgrades. For $10 (free for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers), Tears of the Kingdom plays smoothly on a Switch 2, while it could really struggle on the original Switch. The extra power is also ushering in games that were out of reach for Nintendo users, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring.

Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons being used conventionally and as a mouse.

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While I adore all fancy controllers (the new Pro Controller’s great, by the way), it’s the updated Joy-Cons that impress me the most. They magnetize onto the sides of the console with a satisfying snap and stay firmly attached no matter how bumpy my train commutes have gotten. At a button-press, they’ll slip off and can be used like computer mice on nearly any surface. Believe me — I’ve tested it on cushions, pants, books, tables and even my wife’s pregnant belly! I await a killer app for this gimmicky feature, but it’s been useful for strategy games like Civilization 7.

Original Switch controllers still work with the Switch 2 — but the comparison isn’t flattering. Returning to the older Joy-Cons for some 4-player Mario Party was painful, between the smaller buttons to the inconsistent wireless pairing. But those Joy-Cons are admittedly well-used. Time will only tell if the new models will largely avoid the notorious “stick drift” that plagued the original Joy-Cons.

Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser sells a Nintendo Switch 2 system to a Christopher Evangelista, a fan who says he camped out for two months outside Nintendo New York to be first in line for the console.

The console isn’t perfect. The straps for the detached Joy-Cons make them more stable to use as mice, but they also make the shoulder buttons slightly harder to press since they raise the edges around them. Much-touted “Game Chat” features let you easily talk to friends, but you can’t use the video-conferencing features unless you shrink the gameplay screen. Speaking of screens, while the Switch 2 boasts vivid colors, HD resolution and a high refresh rate, it’s not quite as luminous as the OLED Switch screen I’m coming from. Finally, the paltry internal memory can’t hold many modern games — you’ll need an expensive microSD express card to download more.

Gripes aside, I’m loving the Switch 2 and now gravitate to it more than my cherished Steam Deck. I don’t think every Nintendo fan will need to upgrade until more exclusive games arrive, but if you can afford it now and know that you’ll want one eventually, it’s easy to recommend. Especially if you’re eager to sling shells, crush mushrooms, and vroom to victory.

Mario Kart World

The original Switch launched with Breath of the Wild, one of the most influential games of all time. Mario Kart World doesn’t break as much ground, but it’s got more in common with that trailblazer than I initially thought.

Wario and Waluigi form a motorcycle duo in Mario Kart World’s “Free Roam” mode.

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When I previewed the game in April, I described it as baby’s first Forza Horizon: an open-world racing game that would undoubtedly brim with noisome side activities. It’s actually got a far lighter touch. The game strings dozens of possible races across an interconnected landscape for hectic Grand Prix events and 24-person Knockout rounds. Yet you can also freely roam across the titular world and discover its many delights — which, like Breath of the Wild, aren’t advertised on the map.

Granted, blue-coin dashes and time trials rarely made me squawk with surprise like the shrines and secrets of a Zelda game. But these challenges perfectly fit in-between competitive bouts. Unfortunately, the mode works best when playing alone. Online friends can roam with you, but you can’t unlock costumes and achievements while playing with them.

When it comes to actual racing, World feels like Mario Kart 8 with wider roads and glitzy new power-ups. It’s hard to improve on 8’s formula, which embraces the greatest hits from decades of series history. But by expanding the space between the races, Mario Kart World feels innovative enough to earn the $80 asking price.

Miniscule people explore a gargantuan console in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.

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Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

The other Nintendo launch title, conversely, feels like homework — and I don’t exactly mean that as an insult. Welcome Tour synthesizes Nintendo’s recent forays into theme park and museum design into an exhaustive survey of Switch 2 hardware.

Imagine you’re an ant, crawling along the Switch 2’s surface, hungrily grubbing up morsels. That’s the Welcome Tour experience. Your tiny avatar hunts for hidden stamps needed to progress through a massive console and its peripherals. You’ll also endure demonstrations and occasionally entertaining minigames meant to show off the Switch 2. As tech demos go, it falls short of the heights set by Astro’s Playroom. But as an interactive exhibition piece, it’s oddly compelling.

A sampling of the occasionally whimsical answers to one of Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour’s many quizzes.

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I made it my mission to ace all of Welcome Tour’s quizzes, which the game doles out after you’ve read facts about the Switch 2. Complete with satisfying bloop sounds and jokey answers, these multiple-choice tests target technical manual enjoyers and How It’s Made watchers (a population that overlaps considerably with gaming console reviewers!). Poindexters like me will feel welcome in Welcome Tour. Everyone else may as well save the $10.

From left to right: Split Fiction, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Avowed.

Lifestyle

Brooklyn Beckham Shows Off Tattoo of Nicola Peltz's Love Note Amid Family Feud

Published

10 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Press Room

Brooklyn Beckham Shows Off Tattoo of Nicola Peltz's Love Note Amid Family Feud

Brooklyn Beckham
Wifey’s Ink-redible Words …
Getting Me Through the Family Drama!!!

Published June 12, 2025 7:00 AM PDT

Brooklyn Beckham’s loyalty is crystal clear — ’cause he’s showing off an elaborate tat that’s practically screaming how his wife Nicola Peltz is helping him navigate their messy family rift.

Not long after fans caught him hiding his “mama’s boy” tattoo, Brooklyn shamelessly plugged the ink on his upper back, just below his neck. And it’s not just any design … it’s an encouraging note from Nicola herself, written to him before their April 2022 wedding.

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The note reads, “My forever boy. Read this anytime you feel anxious. I want you to know how deeply loved you are. You have the kindest heart I’ve ever met and hope I never go a day without your love.”

The note also added a little reminder on how they’ll get through it all if he just breathes slow and trusts — and it was signed off with “your future wifey.”

TMZ.com

Looks like Brooklyn and Nicola are doing a lot of deep breathing to power through the family drama. Sources tell TMZ there’s been zero progress in fixing their rocky relationship with the rest of the Beckham clan.

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We broke the story … Brooklyn and his brother Romeo have not been speaking for months ever since Romeo started dating Kim Turnbull — Brooklyn’s ex, who he didn’t trust her intentions with his bro.

Even though Romeo’s recently split from Kim, it looks like the damage is done. Guess this family drama’s too inked in to fix now!

Lifestyle

Tiny Love Stories: ‘I’m So Aware of Our Age Gap ’

Published

1 day ago

June 11, 2025

Press Room

Tiny Love Stories: ‘I’m So Aware of Our Age Gap ’

An Arrow to Amsterdam

Traveling Berlin solo, I download a dating app to find someone in the famously queer city. Waiting at a cafe, I text: “all black, striped bag, blond head.” Maren embraces me with ease. We talk for hours, but I’m so aware of our age gap that I never make a move. As I travel through Europe, her texts keep coming — sweet, intimate, funny. Finally, she sends a map with arrows pointing back to Berlin. I send an arrow pointing to Amsterdam, my final stop before returning to California. Two beautiful Dutch days have led to two deeply romantic years. — Abigail Severance

Visions of My Father

Rounding the snack aisle at Trader Joe’s, I see them examining scones: a woman around my age, mid-50s, and her father, in his 80s. Stooped yet still tall, with surfer-blond hair, he resembles my dad, gone a quarter of a century. It’s only through others that I can imagine what he’d be like now. “Those cranberry orange scones are the best,” I say. They thank me for the tip. Later in the parking lot, I watch as she gently guides him into the car. I let my tears fall, grateful for a glimpse of another daughter’s love. — Joelle Fraser

A Reorganized Life

After months of dating, Elena offered to help me move into a new Italian apartment. I warned her about my book collection: 12 boxes of tomes accumulated over years of grad school. She arrived early with her own moving gloves. While I struggled with furniture, she methodically labeled each box by author and era. After unpacking in my new place, I discovered she’d reorganized my entire library by philosophical movement, creating a system more elegant than anything I’d managed in years. I realized then that I wasn’t just moving apartments; I was moving toward a better, restructured life with her. — Luciano Magaldi Sardella

In Marrakesh on our first trip together as a couple.

From Five to Forever

I was drawn to her pencil case before I was drawn to her. Looking at the metal tin with its rainbow collection of gel pens, I thought, “I need access.” That’s how, at age 5, Jia became my best friend. Our relationship has ebbed and flowed over the years. We’ve exchanged “best” for “oldest” while holding on fiercely to “friend.” Now we’re long distance. She’s back home in Adelaide, Australia, still getting invited to underground raves while I’m in New Jersey, getting rowdy at my book club. We’re not opposites, but counterweights, keeping each other steady for almost 30 years. — Olga Grudinina