Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1528557
OBSESSIONS. DECORATION. SALIENT FACTS. Spa on the Go T h e K a t y Tr a i l , a n abandoned Dallas railroad line reimagined as a public greenway, has evolved into a literal artery of the city. Dallasites and visitors (more than two million annually) convene there to stroll, bike, and, most recently, engage with public art. The Katy Trail Art Society is behind these temporary installations dotting the path. Established in 2021 Details of Iván Argote's Wild Flowers, 2021, at Katy Trail The Spa at The Joule has always been our go-to for supporting both our outer and inner well-being. The gorgeous subterranean space below the downtown boutique hotel is an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city above. We can spend hours indulging in body treatments and lounging in the dry sauna. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the spa has undergone a stunning design renovation and expansion overseen by original designer Adam D. Tihany of New York-based Tihany Design. There's even a signature new space: the Express Facial Bar. If you're short on time, you can pop in for customizable treatments that leave you glowing in as little as 30 minutes. The new area is a refined and airy open concept on the street level. Instead of the treatment rooms on the floor below, you might find yourself a few tables down from a girlfriend who is heading to the same cocktail party as you. On our recent visit to experience the new services, we tried the Radiant Hydration Facial, which replenishes moisture levels by infusing your face with hydration. We left feeling 10 years younger and were quite certain we might even be carded when ordering a drink that evening. After our next trip to the other side of the pond, we'll definitely make an appointment for the Jet-Set Facial, which caters to the travel-weary set by incorporating a lymphatic-drainage massage to reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. There's also an expanded retail space. Pick up products from Biologique Recherche, Environ, and hometown fragrance guru Niven Morgan before checking out at the expanded reception area. The Spa at The Joule, 1530 Main St., thejouledallas.com. Billy Fong Monument Man: Iván Argote's Wild Flowers on Katy Trail by Amanda and Charlie Shufeldt in partnership with Friends of the Katy Trail, the society has developed an impressive program by commissioning seven projects over the course of three years. It's a collaborative effort; the society works closely with local institutions including Nasher Sculpture Center and Dallas Museum of Art. The DMA's Dr. Vivian Li curates one of Katy Trail's latest installations, located at Victory Overlook near the southern end of the trail: Colombia-born Iván Argote's Wild Flowers, a figurative bronze arrayed in fragments of body parts that function as cheeky planters. The timing of Wild Flowers couldn't be more auspicious, as Argote — part of the venerable Perrotin gallery stable — shines in the national and international limelight this fall. The Bogotá-born, Paris-based sculptor is represented in the Venice Biennale by an installation of a fallen monument to Christopher Columbus and his politically charged film Paseo (through November 24). The artist also holds court in the heart of Manhattan with his witty 16-feet- high aluminum pigeon, Dinosaur, that alights along NYC's High Line (through Spring 2026). Argote, who's set for a solo show at the Dallas Contemporary in late 2025, invites visitors to Katy Trail to interact with his sculpture, set on a tiered platform, as a place to rest and reflect: "Humor or affection can help us find a common ground," says Argote in his exhibition statement. "It's all about generating empathy. Tenderness and humor are subversive in such a hard world." Through Spring 2025, katytraildallas.org. Peter Augustus Owen with Catherine D. Anspon KEVIN TODORA The newly renovated Spa at The Joule