The Material Review

Issue 191: Washington Metro, Phish, Genius of Japanese Fashion Mags, Wembanyama's Shaolin Monastery, Guide to Midwestern Burgers, Security Envelopes, Miller Lite and Spotlight On: Sandals.

Michael Williams and Taylor Stacey

May 27, 2026

∙ Paid

Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.

The Washington Metro, a Wonder Underground

“The capital’s rapid transit system, a testament to the value of good public design, is a work of Brutalist beauty and timeless civic dignity.” [WSJ]

Longtime Phish lighting designer Chris Kuroda behind the boards at Sphere Las Vegas in April.

How Phish Reinvented Sphere Forever

“During its second residency in Las Vegas in April, the legendary jam band introduced a few innovations that turned the cutting-edge venue into an instrument of improvisation, including a revolutionary virtual lighting rig. For the first time, the teams behind those technologies talk about how they did it.” [GQ]

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