Issue 42: Frequencies, Fusions, Fanciful Flights: The Weekly Wondrous World

Issue No. 42 - Welcome, interdimensional wanderers, to Issue No. 42 of The Experientialist, where improbable wonders meet comedic introspection, and the number 42 slips into the narrative more smoothly than an unsolicited “fun fact” at a flat-earther's dinner party.

Why does 42 matter, you ask? Well, for starters, at 42 degrees of refraction, light conjures its prismatic masterpiece in the form of a rainbow—making it the official hype angle for leprechauns. Your heart, that diligent drummer in your chest, beats about 42 million times a year (give or take a few palpitations depending on your caffeine intake).

Surprised? Intrigued? Maybe even thinking we’re missing something? Ha! Don’t panic, reader! Yes, we’ve crash‐landed in the realm of cosmic significance, armed with Deep Thought’s answer and more questions than a hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional traveler stuck in a loop of their own bad decision could dream of. That's right. Issue No. 42 is going to be like hitching a ride on the improbability drive, so hang on tight and mind the sudden whales.

Now that we’ve set the stage with these opening tidbits—call them cosmic amuse‐bouches—it’s time to unravel how 42 seeps into the four pillars of our reality: Design, Technology, Commerce, and Culture.

We begin in the land of Design, where 42 is the highest achievable score in the aptly named Dominoes 42 (because, naturally, you’d want a board game paying direct homage to the universal cheat code). Meanwhile, Czech avant‐gardists over at “Skupina 42” spent 1942 forging an artistic revolution inspired by concrete jungles and modern factories, presumably chugging absinthe while chanting “42 lines or bust!”—a toast no doubt heard by Johannes Gutenberg in spirit form, who lovingly printed the world’s first big‐deal book, the “42‐line Bible.” Even Lewis Carroll joined the party by sneaking “Rule 42” into Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, banishing anyone taller than a mile (one wonders if he secretly measured the Queen of Hearts on the sly). Over on the Technology side, 42 zips around like a caffeinated flea: it’s the ASCII code for the asterisk, that wildcard star of computing; in binary, 42 is the mesmerizing 101010, a perfect pattern for code‐tinkerers to drool over; the first Ethereum block even includes a nod to 42 in its hex data, which might be the geekiest Easter egg since the dawn of cryptocurrency; and école 42, a no‐tuition, peer‐to‐peer coding school, proves you can train tomorrow’s software wizards without burying them under lecture slides and tuition debt.

Not to be outdone, Commerce politely raises its hand to remind us that every standard U.S. barrel of oil holds 42 gallons—just the right amount for an existential crisis about fossil fuels. Then there’s the quirky official gold price of $42.22 set after Bretton Woods collapsed—because obviously we needed a comedic symbol of monetary policy that’s about as sensible as wearing socks with sandals. Our dear U.S. Treasury, not wanting to be left out, still keeps gold on its books at that price, presumably to keep the bureaucratic jesters among us delightfully employed.

And if you think Culture is standing on the sidelines, think again: the ancient Egyptians believed you’d face 42 judges in the afterlife, presumably the toughest law firm in all eternity. 42nd Street in New York has become a neon‐lit testament to showbiz glitz and the unwavering human urge to chase stardom. Jackie Robinson’s legendary #42 remains the only universally retired number in Major League Baseball, which is cosmic proof that sometimes, the digits you wear can break barriers and reshape history. And if you thought 42 was done showing off, think again—it even snuck onto the back of the spider that bit Miles Morales (from Earth-42) in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, surely a nod to Jackie, and proof that even radioactive arachnids know how to honor legends.

Are you ready, dear reader, to an issue so packed with mind-bending experiences that it might just convince you that reality is a malleable concept, much like a Burning Man 747 that refuses to retire or an AI DJ that could one day lead a military coup—but for now, just drops sick beats at San Francisco nightclubs. We’ll be diving headfirst into immersive wonders, from MONOPOLY LIFESIZED, where capitalism is fun again (until you go to jail), to a Hokusai exhibit that lets you experience Edo-era Japan—now with extra wind effects—while also checking into a boutique hotel where your concierge is interpretive dance. And if that’s not enough, there’s a rave dedicated to Mark Zuckerberg, a Titanic VR experience that promises first-class luxury minus the iceberg, and the staggering realization that high fashion now includes Hidden Valley Ranch—because at this point, nothing is sacred, and the most immersive experience of all might just be watching the world fold in on itself.

So here we stand, dear voyager, on the threshold of an issue that aims to infuse your life with more meaning, mayhem, and marvel than you thought possible. Pack your galactic carry?on with an open mind, a dash of irony, and a spare towel, because we’re about to fling ourselves headlong into a swirling vortex of experiential wonders inspired by the number that might just contain the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

So off we are, here were go, let's dig in...

Is this article immersive?

If you were hoping to hear less from us, we regret to inform you that blooloop has made an unfortunate editorial decision. Thanks to the gracious (and, let’s be honest, highly suspect and possibly deeply regrettable) judgment of Charles Read, The Experientialists co-founder Lou Pizante is am now contributing an opinion column for blooloop. The circumstances surrounding this decision may or may not have involved several cocktails, some light coercion, and an incident where Lou possibly, hypothetically, maybe slipped Charlie a mickey—but at this point, the details are irrelevant. Here’s his launch piece. It’s about how “immersive” was once a portal to other worlds—places where creativity, interactivity, and sheer audacity could bend reality itself. Now, it’s often shorthand for a neon sign and a $45 entry fee. But all is not lost—this column will dig into the creators, enablers, and dreamers who are doing the real work of making magic, proving that, despite the noise, great experiences still exist, and the best is yet to come. Blooloop (5 minutes)

The Cold, Hard Truth About Brutalist Utopias

In this journey through Brutalist architecture, we explore ten buildings that look like they were designed by sentient cinder blocks with an appreciation for both function and emotional repression. It reads like a love letter to concrete, sharp angles, and the belief that windows are for the weak. Whether it’s the Barbican Complex in London—basically a concrete jungle gym for adults—or LE Corbusier's Unité d’Habitation, which sounds fancy but is essentially a concrete IKEA for people, these Brutalist structures that make you wonder if the architects were in a long-term relationship with their cement mixers. It’s architecture that doesn’t just make a statement—it yells at you for even asking. Parametric Architecture (5 minutes)

From Dubstep to Doom Protocol

In what can only be described as a fascinating new frontier in "we absolutely should not be doing this," San Francisco’s newest DJ isn’t just spinning tracks—he’s a part-time military asset, proving that the future of warfare includes a sick drop. Phantom—a humanoid robot created by a defense contractor with the chill ethos of Skynet, but make it vibe—made his debut at Temple Nightclub (instead of, you know, keeping him in a lab where he can’t learn how to manipulate human enthusiasm. The crowd, a mix of tech bros, AI enthusiasts, people whose LinkedIn profiles include the phrase "thought leader," and at least one guy wearing an Apple Vision Pro like a dystopian talisman, cheered for the military-industrial psyop, whose fist-pumping was ever so slightly out of sync with the music because, apparently, rhythm is harder to code than combat functionality. We guess nothing says party like forgetting that your DJ is one software update away from "lethal mode." SF Gate (7 minutes)

Art, Science, and a 100,000-Person DNA Database Walk Into a Museum…

What happens when you give an artist access to 45 scientific disciplines, NASA’s data, and Estonia’s entire DNA biobank? If you’re Ryoji Ikeda, you turn it into a multi-sensory experience that feels like getting beamed through a particle accelerator. Now on display in Tartu, his latest exhibition "Critical Path" transforms raw scientific data into mind-bending visuals, and includes a choir-based installation where Estonian voices turn into an eerie, otherworldly soundscape. ?It’s proof that science and art can (and should) merge more often—especially if it means 25-meter corridor of flashing LED screens whispering secrets about your genetic code.

Scoops up, peeps! The exhibition Ryoji Ikeda’s "Data-Universe" in Tartu runs at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu from November 8, 2024, to March 2, 2025 as part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 program.

The Only Place Where a Bellhop Might Hand You a Metaphor

If you’ve ever wished that checking into a boutique hotel came with an unsolicited, metaphor-laden dance interpretation of your most haunting memories—well, grab your emotional baggage and brace yourself, because the concierge here is about to check you into a suite of feelings you didn’t know you booked!

At H?tel Le Germain Montréaléal, an all-star group of elite organizations—Ballets Jazz Montréal, CAPAS, Danse Danse, La Parenthèse, and the hotel itself—have conspired to lure unsuspecting theatergoers into a world where hotel rooms are no longer for sleeping but for highly intimate dance performances that feel like reading someone else’s diary while they stare at you. Directed by Christophe Garcia, NIEBO HOTEL guides audiences through six choreographed experiences, where sensuality, solitude, and the poetry of human connection unfold just inches from their faces. Though initially skeptical, many attendees will leave feeling strangely fulfilled, quietly wondering if their next actual hotel stay will feel painfully uninspired without a contemporary dancer dramatically rolling across their bedspread.

Scoops up, peeps! Performances of NIEBO HOTEL will take place at Le Germain Hotel Montréal (2050 Mansfield) from February 18 to March 1, 2025. Wanna be outside? Grab your tix: https://www.dansedanse.ca/en/shows/niebo-hotel-christophe-garcia-ballets-jazz-montreal

Theme Parks Have Lost Their Minds, and Honestly, Same

blooloop'sx take on this year’s top immersive trends prove that the attractions industry has officially decided to stop pretending it’s normal, blending horror, nostalgia, and wellness like a bizarre smoothie of haunted hotels, barrel-jumping apes, and moody yoga sessions. ?Want to relive your childhood? Great—just head to a Teletubbies rave, get slimed at a Nickelodeon hotel, and wrap it all up with a projection-mapped lazy river that somehow makes floating feel like an acid trip at an art exhibit. And if that’s not weird enough, you can book a night in Up’s flying house or sip pink cocktails in Barbie’s Beach House while debating whether you’ve officially peaked as an adult and if this is what your college degree was supposed to lead to. Just make sure to dodge the life-sized Ken doll who’s suspiciously good at small talk and bad at personal boundaries. It’s like your childhood dreams and adult anxieties got together, had a few too many drinks, and planned your itinerary. Blooloop (15 minutes)

A Sophisticated Mess of Genius and Glitches

Imagine this: You’re in Paris. The Ministry of Culture is throwing an event where robots paint like Degas and a bunch of algorithmic obsessives make a movie about books getting yeeted across a library. Somehow, this is all deeply meaningful and NOT, as you might assume, an elaborate prank on people who pretend to understand AI but really just want to sound smart at dinner parties. In an audacious attempt to convince the world that robots have souls, two artists—one Parisian, one from Tokyo—turned AI into an avant-garde delirious hallucination featuring Degas and an army of book-fetching automatons. Ruben Fro’s "Deep Diving" (rolling here) reimagines the Bibliothèque Nationale’s document delivery system as a sentient, poetry-loving librarian, while Benjamin Bardou’s Memories of Paintings lets AI mumble something half-coherent about Degas and call it art. Naturally, this was all projected onto massive walls and discussed in hushed, reverent tones—because nothing says “high culture” like a bunch of deeply contemplative, highbrow aesthetes nodding thoughtfully at what is essentially a very expensive, government-funded AI daydream. Tap in for an interview with the minds behind it and a look at "Memories of Paintings." Meta (8 minutes)

Ukiyo-e—Just Like Hokusai (Probably) Intended

Tokyo’s latest immersive exhibit asks an important question: What if you could step inside a Hokusai painting and also get hit by a small, polite tornado? “Hokusai: Another Story in Tokyo” — a celebration of the man who spent decades meticulously crafting some of the most iconic (and anolgue) woodblock prints in history — allows guests to step inside Edo-era Japan, feel the seasons change in real-time, and be gently jostled by a 4D approximation of nature. The tech-enabled, multi-room experience combines LED screens, airflow technology, and some truly wild haptic flooring to turn traditional Edo-era prints into a futuristic art rave. If Hokusai were alive today, he’d probably be deeply confused—but also, let’s be honest, kind of impressed.

Scoops up, peeps! “Hokusai: Another Story in Tokyo” exhibits February 1, 2025 through June 1, 2025 at Tokyo Plaza Shibuya 3F. Tap in to get tix.

Love is a Game, and You’re the NPC

If you’ve ever wanted to be both a matchmaker and a reality show producer while tipsy at a bar, congratulations—your oddly specific dream has come true. Last Call Theater's "Love Game" is an immersive theatrical production?directed by Michael DiNardo where You, a random person who just wanted a drink, are now entrusted with the delicate task of steering fictional singles toward romance—or, more likely, into an emotional tailspin.?The show ponders weighty questions like “Is love an algorithm?” and “Can human connection be gamified?” while also encouraging participants to commit low-level espionage for the sake of romance. Like Tinder, but in real life, and also theater, it’s part dating simulator, part social experiment, and entirely a reminder that love, much like improv theater, is deeply unpredictable and often embarrassing. LA Times (5 minutes)

The Sun King’s Digital Playground

Ah Versailles, home of powdered wigs and wildly inefficient plumbing, the palace so extravagant that its occupants were literally guillotined for their audacity. But now, instead of violently overthrowing a monarchy, we can experience an immersive simulation of wealth disparity through the magic of VR—because nothing screams historical accuracy like strapping on a headset in a place where people once died from wearing too much perfume. Thanks to digital wizardry, you can now roam free as a king, your realm made entirely of pixels, wandering through the long-lost gardens, visiting an extinct menagerie that once housed an elephant (who presumably had some thoughts on being there), and getting lost in a hedge maze without the risk of dehydration or revolution—all while reflecting on the fact that a century later, France replaced it all with a zoo where the most exotic thing is probably a stressed-out pigeon. The best part? You’ll be guided by the ghostly voice of a 17th-century gardener, because what’s an immersive experience without a little unsolicited mansplaining from beyond the grave? artnet (5 minutes)

Scoops up, peeps! “Versailles: Lost Gardens of the Sun King” is a 25-minute virtual reality location-based entertainment experience offered by?Chateau de Versailles?from March 25, 2025 through January 4, 2026. Lowkey cop your tix!

You Can Fall In Love with Art Now. But It Might Break Up with You First

Are you an art lover? Because, while art has always made people feel things, teamLab Inc. Phenomena Abu Dhabi, opening in April 2025, is the first museum designed to actively lead you on and then ghost you mid-experience. With 17,000 square meters of interactive, ever-changing installations, this venue is a fully immersive emotional minefield, responding to light, air, water, and your growing sense of attachment before casually vanishing just when you think you’ve made a connection. If you’ve ever wanted to fall deeply in love with something ephemeral, mysterious, and incapable of texting you back, then swipe right—the future of romance is here, and it’s an art installation in Abu Dhabi.

Meaning: The One Thing You Actually Need to Function

Joe Pine is here to remind you that life isn’t just about being healthy, wealthy, or wise—it’s about not waking up every morning wondering, what’s the point of all this? Science backs him up, as does religion, Viktor Frankl, and Bob Dylan, all of whom collectively agree: if you don’t define your purpose, someone else will, and you probably won’t like their version. Transformations (8 minutes)

Where Digital Culture Meets Interpretive Squatting

In a bold fusion of art, technology, and what appears to be the world’s largest interactive tutu, the "Forest Dancer" exhibition is a surreal playground where movement, light, and sound interact like socially awkward party guests. Showcased?during the Quoz Arts Fest in Dubai and spanning 600 square meters, featuring interactive light, sound, and what can only be described as "whimsical insect-based peer pressure," this exhibition encourages movement in a way that is either deeply profound or just a clever way to prevent loitering.?Designed by ENESS (which also has artworks showing in Lux Entertainment's Balloon Museum and other interactive experiences in the least expected spaces around the world, the exhibit invites visitors to sit, dance, and possibly commune with Whispering Mountains and Stick Insects—which, incidentally, would also be a fantastic name for a folk band. design boom (1 minute)

Sun, Sea, and Suspicious Circumstances Await You

Ahoy, murder maniacs!?Welcome aboard the SS Morbid Curiosity, where your dreams of combining sun, sea, and serial killers have finally come true, thanks to this floating festival of felonies. It's a four-night extravaganza where you can learn how to defend yourself against imaginary assailants, all while sipping pi?a coladas and pretending you're not secretly terrified of your fellow passengers. By day, you'll solve mock murders; by night, you'll wonder if the guy in cabin 2B is actually here to research his next killing spree. Don't forget to pack your sunscreen, your alibi, and your totally normal, not-at-all-concerning interest in the macabre! Secure your spot before someone else… eliminates the competition.

Tell Me More, Tell Me More—Like, Do I Have to Participate?

Have you ever wanted to experience the raw panic of being pulled into an unsolicited dance battle by a man in too-tight jeans? Do you wish your life had more synchronized finger-snapping and unsolicited group dances??Do you believe the best way to resolve personal disputes is through high-speed drag races in in a paved river bed, while strangers in matching jackets screamed my name? Is your idea of a good time getting aggressively serenaded by an actor who refuses to break character even as you slowly back away? Good news, you beautiful disaster—Secret Cinema has decided that your deeply concerning, questionably legal, and alarmingly choreographed life goals are exactly what London needs right now. Grease is coming to London, meaning you now have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be publicly shamed by the Pink Ladies in real time. Prepare to be shoved headfirst into Rydell High, where 30 performers will sing, flirt, and possibly challenge you to a drag race, all while ask you suspend your belief and that high schoolers in the 1950s apparently looked 35. Expect immersive performances, aggressively nostalgic set pieces, and the crushing realization that you are, in fact, far too old to be doing the Hand Jive with this much sincerity. Sign up now for early access tickets for?GREASE: The Immersive Movie Musical?ahead of general on sale in March here.

Banijay Discovers the Outdoors, Immediately Monetizes It

Banijay Entertainment has decided that sitting is over—entertainment should now involve moving, thinking, and potentially signing a waiver. Led by Fran?ois de Brugada, a man who once turned French cinema into an escape room, Banijay Live Studio is here to make entertainment a full-contact sport. The plan is simple: take beloved IP, strip away the protective barrier of the screen, and place you inside it, where your choices actually matter—unlike all those times you yelled at contestants on reality shows.?With projections of a 7% annual market growth in the "please leave your house" sector, Banijayis betting big on immersive content, including VR adventures, real-world game installations, and experiences that blur the line between entertainment and psychological experiment. Their first act? A Black Mirror attraction, which is ironic, considering the show itself warns about exactly this kind of thing. Prensario (3 minutes)

Not a Rave, Not a Play, But Somehow Both

Tom May at Creative Boom is here to tell you that Lil.Miss.Lady isn’t just a show—it’s a grime rave wrapped in a social documentary, sprinkled with theatrical magic, and marinated in bass so deep it rearranges your internal organs. It takes the audience beyond passive watching and into something far messier—a club that isn’t a club but also somehow is a club, where storytelling moves around you, not at you. And now that we have video proof, there’s no denying it: it will steal your drink, make you dance, and leave you wondering if you were in a performance or just had a really weird night out. Creative Boom ( minutes)

Scoops up, peeps! Lil.Miss.Lady is at Gloucester Guildhall on May 31, 2025, The Lowry in Salford from June 13-14, 2025 and Brixton House, London from July 9-20, 2025.

CalArts D.R.E.A.M.S. Big

For those who believe an art degree means a lifetime of explaining your job to confused relatives, California Institute of the Arts’ new D.R.E.A.M.S. Initiative (Digital Research Entertainment Arts Media Storytelling) is here to prove otherwise.?The school responsible for training your favorite indie filmmaker and that one performance artist who lived in a box for six months, has now set its sights on location-based entertainment.? This initiative, backed by the DOLAN FAMILY FOUNDATION, provides a rare opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in making highly interactive art experiences—or, at a minimum, providing future baristas with interesting side projects. With a mix of internships, business funding, and micro-credentials (which sound fancy but mostly help your LinkedIn look impressive), the programs goal is to position students for careers in the immersive entertainment industry—where the line between "art" and "expensive Instagram trap" is charmingly blurry. Ultimately, this is either the start of a groundbreaking shift in entertainment or the birth of 500 very enthusiastic Kickstarter campaigns. Venture Beat (3 minutes)

Eclipso Drops Anchor in London

Eclipso has officially docked in London, and in true Eclipso fashion, they didn’t just open a store—they launched an experience. Their newest location features Titanic: Echoes of the Past, an immersive VR journey that allows visitors to step aboard history’s most famous ship, walk its grand halls, and explore the wreckage with stunning detail—minus the whole “sinking” part (because that would be a bit much, even for Eclipso). Congratulations to Antoine Lieutaud and the entire Eclipso team for bringing the Titanic back to life—right in Camden! Get tix here.

Victorian Elegance Meets Screaming Elks

The Driehaus Museum, once a grand mansion for Chicago’s elite cigar enthusiasts, is now home to something much more interesting—an art exhibit featuring screaming elks, ghostly animal projections, and a bass speaker stuck in a fireplace blasting the voices of people once unwelcome here. Curated by Giovanni Aloi, A Tale of Today: Materialities throws open the gilded doors to the modern world, letting in 14 Midwest artists, unsettling audio loops, and the distinct feeling that Lucius Fisher’s portrait is judging you, thus transforming the Driehaus into something between an art gallery, a séance, and an extremely well-funded haunted house. Highlights include Jefferson Pinder’s eerie sound installation, Jonas N.T. Becker’s casual decision to replace fine china with raw coal, and Olivia Block’s ghost-animal light show that’s either profound or the opening scene of a horror film. So if you’ve ever wondered what a mansion full of old money would sound like if it finally had to listen to the people it once ignored—good news, now you don’t have to imagine. WBEZ (5 minutes)

Scoops up, peeps! "A Tale of Today: Materialities" exhibits at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Museum, located at 50 E. Erie St., Chicago, IL. It runs through April 27, 2025. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, free for children 12 and under.

The 747 That Refuses to Retire

Once a noble Boeing 747 soaring through the skies, this decommissioned jumbo jet has now embarked on its most ambitious mission yet: becoming a nightclub. After a harrowing journey that included getting stuck in the desert, being painstakingly moved piece by piece, and facing the existential question of what an airplane does when it can’t fly, the aircraft has finally landed at AREA15 in Las Vegas.?And if you ever wondered what it would be like to dance in the remains of an aircraft that survived both commercial aviation and the chaotic dust storms of Black Rock City, good news: Winston Fisher has the answer.

Nine Chefs, Nine Artists, and One Very Confused Waiter

Consider this: You walk into a palatial dining hall, expecting a standard five-course meal, and instead find yourself emotionally unprepared for a sensory deep dive into the Himalayan landscape, colonial spice trade politics, and the apocalypse, all in the span of dinner. That was The Gathering—a festival where chefs became storytellers, artists became set designers, and diners became unwitting participants in a high-concept exploration of history, culture, and what it means to "taste" an experience. Over three days, nine chefs and nine artists joined forces to create dishes that were less about satisfying hunger and more about redefining how we think about our own fleeting existence as humans in a world where sea levels are rising. Whether guests were sipping toddy in an avant-garde Kerala shack or contemplating their own mortality over a dystopian seafood platter, one thing was clear—this is what it means to "taste" an experience. With plates that made statements, rooms that transported guests into alternate culinary dimensions, and at least one menu that might have been a subtle warning about humanity’s future, this was not a place to just casually grab a bite, but more akin to performance art for the extremely well-fed. Travel & Leisure Asia (4 minutes)

The Hunger Games: Now With 100% More Jazz Hands

After ten years of rumors, delays, and what we can only assume was an intense battle over how many arrows one can legally fire in a West End theater, The Hunger Games stage adaptation is finally happening. Directed by Matthew Dunster, with a set designed by Miriam Buether, and staged in the brand-new Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, this production is said to be so immersive that it?will make sure you feel the full emotional weight of state-mandated child murder—while seated comfortably in a ￡100 chair. Opening October 20, the production promises an “electrifying experience,” though whether that means emotional intensity or actual shock collars remains unclear. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like an extra in a dystopian nightmare—but with a well-stocked concession stand—this is the show for you. Big shout out to Jenefer Brown and the entire Lionsgate LBE crew for once again dropping us right into the action—hopefully with less actual death. The Guardian (3 minutes)

Scoops up, peeps! The stage adaptation of The Hunger Games is set to premiere at the newly constructed Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre in London, with previews beginning on October 20, 2025. Tickets will go on sale starting March 27, 2025.

A Zuckerberg-Themed Rave Proves the Simulation Is Glitching

At a warehouse in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood, a group of young tech workers, ironic partygoers, and one very confused journalist gathered to celebrate something—though whether it was Mark Zuckerberg, capitalism, or the slow collapse of reality itself remained unclear. Zara Stone describes to us "the Zuck Rave"—a night hosted by a hacker-house entrepreneur who just wanted to escape networking events. As Zara sees it, the Zuck Rave was a half-ironic, half-disturbingly-sincere attempt to blend tech culture with party culture, despite neither being known for their social skills.?This was a night featuring an untouched pi?ata of Zuck (a metaphor for our collective powerlessness?), an electric train ride to nowhere (a metaphor for the metaverse?), and AI-generated Zuckerberg face swaps (a metaphor for… well, that one’s just creepy). At the end of the night, the biggest revelation wasn’t about Zuck’s cultural relevance or his transformation into a jiu-jitsu-loving tech bro—it was the realization that, somehow, this was not the weirdest thing to happen in San Francisco this year. Not even close. SF Standard (6 minutes)

The Intersection of Art, Islam, and Squash-Based Illumination

Slavs and Tatars, a Berlin-based art collective, have outdone themselves by suspending 60 blown-glass melons from the ceiling and daring us to call it anything but divine intervention. These glowing, celestial gourds hang in a traditional Gulf wind tower, whispering, “You don’t know nearly enough about Uzbek melon festivals, do you?” If you thought modern art had run out of ways to make fruit culturally profound, prepare to be humbled by a wax gourd’s thousand-year history of spiritual enlightenment. stir World (6 minutes)

Scoops up, peeps! "Melon Mahallah" (2025) is on view at the Islamic Arts Biennale (IAB), which runs from January 25 – May 25, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Pass Go, Collect Immersion

David Hutchinson, a man who has never settled for “just playing the game,” has turned MONOPOLY into a full-blown, actor-led, real-estate adventure where you can physically go to jail, and yet somehow, it’s fun. The Path Entertainment Group has taken the classic board game and transformed it into a theatrical spectacle that is part game night, part interactive theater, and part cut-throat fight for financial dominance (but, you know, in a friendly way). With MONOPOLY LIFESIZED and the MONOPOLY Tea Tour, Hutchinson and the awesome crew at Path have achieved what no family game night ever could—giving us all the thrill of competitive capitalism without the crushing despair of actual financial ruin. Under his leadership, Path isn’t just creating experiences, it’s redefining the way audiences interact with stories, games, and nostalgia. Plus, anyone who can make going to jail in MONOPOLY fun instead of a source of lifelong family grudges deserves our deepest respect. Brands Untapped (8 minutes)

Bottle Service, But Make It Art

Las Vegas, a city best known for pretending money isn’t real, has decided to take things even further by letting Hubble Studios turn Wynn Hotel Las Vegas' DJ residencies into fully immersive art experiences. The details are still a bit vague, but what we do know is that there will be light installations, limited-edition fashion drops, and we can assume that at some point, you’ll be dancing under a projection of an artfully distorted face while questioning whether you’ve reached a higher plane of existence or just had one too many overpriced cocktails.?In the meantime, they’ve dropped a T-shirt, because nothing says “we’re about to reinvent nightlife” like a well-designed piece of cotton that costs more than your last dinner date. Stupid Dope (5 minutes)

If Your Brand’s Not an Experience, Is It Even a Brand Anymore?

Luxury brands have realized that selling objects isn’t enough—because what do you give someone who already owns five yachts and a pet tiger? The answer: an experience so exclusive it makes other rich people jealous. Want a Roger Dubuis watch? Hope you’re ready to tear around a racetrack in a supercar while contemplating the meaning of wealth. With AI-driven personalization, immersive fashion spectacles, and exclusive, invitation-only adventures, luxury is no longer about owning—it’s about living inside a meticulously curated narrative, one exorbitantly priced thrill at a time. Creative Brief (6 minutes)

Hidden Valley Ranch Is Now High Fashion—Just Let That Sink In

New York Fashion Week used to be about high fashion and avant-garde creativity—now, it’s about finding the nearest brand activation that will give you free food. Laura Mercier Cosmetics handed out baguettes, Redken Espa?a built a pop-up coffee shop, and McDonald's hosted an afterparty complete with an open bar and a food truck. If this trend continues, next year’s NYFW will be co-sponsored by DoorDash and feature couture inspired by Uber Eats promo codes, and it’s only a matter of time before Paris Fashion Week unveils a couture collection inspired by Doritos. BizBash (7 minutes)

Space is Big, Mysterious, and Now Surprisingly Well Curated

NASA, an organization best known for launching things into the cold, indifferent void, has now turned to launching art projects into the cultural void of public indifference—only to discover that, against all odds, people are actually paying attention. Armed with nothing but data from a billion-dollar satellite network and the inexplicable magic of “open science,” artists are now bending reality itself to turn celestial numbers into hypnotic displays, ensuring that your next panic attack about the universe’s vastness is both immersive and high-resolution. Experts warn that if this trend continues, we may soon witness a Banksy installation on the Moon, ruining space forever.

Scoops up, peeps! Ever wanted to play with NASA’s data but lacked both a PhD and a rocket? Now’s your chance!?Get lost in the stars (and several PDFs) here.

LBE + VR: Like Real Life, But With a Respawn Button

The entertainment industry is changing faster than your WiFi connection in a crowded Starbucks, and Bob Cooney’s VR Arcade and Attractions Summit is where the future is being written in real-time—by people who actually know what they’re talking about. On March 17-18, 2025, in the neon-drenched wonderland of Las Vegas, this event will showcase the best and brightest in VR, including Fabien Barati (CEO, Excurio), Anthony Batt (Co-Founder & EVP, Wevr), and David Bardos (Co-Founder & CEO, UNIVRSE)—and then there’s The Experientialists co-founder Lou Pizante, presumably to keep things from getting too prestigious and add some comic relief. They’ll be exploring the evolution of LBE (location-based entertainment) experiences and asking the big questions, like: Can VR save theaters? Can interactivity turn passive audiences into thrill-seeking adventurers? Will audiences embrace hyper-immersive cinematic experiences, or will they just keep watching TikTok in the theater lobby? Only one way to find out—join us in Vegas.

Scoops up, peeps! Join the movement to revolutionize location-based entertainment with Virtual Reality Attractions. Get your registration here.

XP Land’s Hunt for Reality-Distorters

Do you, or someone you know, create events so immersive that attendees forget their own names and start speaking in interpretive dance?? Do you or said someone create experiences so mind-blowingly immersive that people leave wondering if they’ve just time-traveled, astral-projected, and/or joined a (good) cult??Are you or that someone else an experiential visionary whose projects make people weep, dance, and question their very existence—all within the first five minutes??Does your or their idea of a “normal” event involves synchronized drones, interactive holograms, and at least one surprise llama? Perfect! Because Erica Boeke and the exceptional experientialists at XP Land are curating the second #XLIST of people who make experiences so intense, your therapist will need therapy, and here is the best part — you qualify!

What's this all about? XP Land’s XLIST celebrates the titans of transformation, the demigods of creativity, the pioneers turning life into an unforgettable spectacle. This is THE list for the most daring creatives who’ve decided that reality is merely a suggestion, and every experience should feel like the universe’s best-kept secret.?

So nominate?that one friend who turned their garage into an intergalactic dance temple—because the world needs to know. Or nominate yourself and step into the spotlight—because your genius is too big to fit into a LinkedIn post. But do it before February 28, because you deserve recognition for making the mundane magnificent—and let’s be honest, your brilliance cannot be contained. You can make your nomination here. And use the code "XLISTLOU25" to receive 25% off the nomination fee, just by being friends of The Experientialists.

Let's Dive Deeper Together

Hey there, we are Lou Pizante and Maria S Redin, co-founders of The Experientialists and the curious minds behind our mothership newsletter: "The Experientialist." This newsletter is our playground, a place where art, technology, commerce and culture dance together. But it's not just about what we have to say – it's about sparking conversations, learning from each other, and growing our collective knowledge.

We are always on the lookout for fascinating new experiences, innovative ideas, and intriguing perspectives. If you've got a story, a project, or a brainwave that you're itching to share, or if you're just keen to chat about the latest in immersive art/entertainment or groundbreaking tech, we're all ears.

Why not reach out? Let's connect and explore these fascinating intersections together. Drop us a message at [email protected] and let's see where our conversation takes us. And please follow us on LinkedIn. We are looking forward to hearing from you!