HIGH LIFE HIGHLIGHT/

Every now and then we all need a reason to get up and get away. For me, it’s either sports or concerts.

Follow The Music

With Coldplay having extended their lengthy “Music of the Spheres World Tour” with a brief run of North American dates in Fall 2023, I’m using this month’s column space to catalog everything you’ll need and everywhere you’ll want to go to make the Los Angeles dates in September. It’ll be worth it too, as multi-time Grammy winner H.E.R. and 070 Shake will serve as openers.

The Gear

TheBand

Anyone can thrift or run to academy for affordable luggage, but if you’re wanting state of the art, this is my recommendation. “Meet the future of luxurious rolling luggage. Imagined by Marc Newson, widely acknowledged as the most influential industrial designer of his generation, this lightweight 4-wheeled carry-on has a completely flat interior thanks to its large external cane. Every detail exudes innovation and lightness: from the discreet new TSA lock to the most comfortable wheels ever designed by Louis Vuitton. Travel in style with your Horizon 55, which offers surprisingly large interior capacity for a cabin-friendly bag.”

The Stay

My favorite place to post up every time I’m in LA is The W Hotel, hands down. “This boutique Hollywood hotel is located on the doorstep of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is 15 minutes’ walk from Dolby Theater.” With a rooftop pool and restaurants inside, it’s convenient and perfect for recouping after jet lag.

It’s 25 minutes from LAX, but what makes it worth it is the amenities. “A modern gym with cardiovascular equipment and a 24-hour business center are available... The hotel also offers 24-hour Whatever/Whenever service for dinner reservations, transportation arrangements and more.

Delphine restaurant offers Contemporary American cuisine that is Californiainspired with a focus on fresh, organic ingredients. The Living Room offers Mediterranean dishes for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy signature cocktails and expansive views of downtown and Hollywood from the rooftop pool and WET Deck.” You really can’t beat that.

The Eats

Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills is at the top of my list for a quality dining experience with an exceptional menu.

“Mastro's embraces classic steakhouse traditions as warmly as it welcomes the moneyed clientele that frequent this bustling eatery. It's a celebrity favorite, too. A relatively sedate dining room occupies the ground floor, while a lively bar scene—downright boisterous by buttoned-down steakhouse standards— awaits upstairs. The Penthouse at Mastro's occupies the third floor, featuring a terrace, the Canon Room with a wall of wine bottles, and sushi in addition to Mastro's menu. The straightforward but pricey bill of fare features New York strip, porterhouse and rib-eye steaks, a very respectable rack of lamb and a smattering of options for non-carnivores.”