I was sitting in a wine bar at LAX when I first noticed the rift. The bartender—perfectly nice, blandly handsome—was trying to sell a passenger on a California red. This was not the Centurion Lounge. It wasn’t even the Delta Lounge. Yet above the din of gate change announcements, he was prattling on about the “notes of peppercorn in a high-altitude northern California red.” I wanted to scream. Or at least quote Into the Woods: “If life were only moments, then you’d never know you had one.”
Maybe you’ve felt it too. The 10-course tasting menu, the helicopter ride to the tarmac, Burning Man—it’s just not hitting the same way. If you want to raise someone’s pulse, the invitation better be further afield, more involved, so absurd that the only appropriate response is, of course, yes. How else to explain director Rob Ashford’s annual one-night-only performance in Tangier? Or the James Bond surprise party Floyd Mayweather threw for Robert F. Smith in Palm Beach?
When it comes to finding happiness, we’ve always thrown money at the problem. But lately, even now is starting to feel too late. Need to lose weight? Take Ozempic (no judgment!). Need to pledge Tri Delta? Hire a rush consultant. Want to see Beyoncé? For $24 million she’ll come to you—or at least Dubai. There are the too-too pilgrimages, the Vegasification of New York City restaurants alongside the exporting of New York City restaurants to Vegas—a service industry echo chamber that smells vaguely of truffles and Santal 33. But sometimes a journey is about more than chasing clout. Sometimes a true change in atmosphere can be powerful. Regular old travel is for other people, civilians, anyone using points. If you want to touch the third rail these days, you’re chasing vibes.
Denne historien er fra December 2023 - January 2024-utgaven av Town & Country US.
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Denne historien er fra December 2023 - January 2024-utgaven av Town & Country US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Jersey, JE ΤΙΜΕ
Nearly 50 years ago a museum opened in Paris.
THE HUNGER GAMES
Two former bons amis grew up in the same expensive suburb and cut their teeth together in the Paris nightclub scene. Then they launched competing restaurant empires, and the gloves came off. Now one of them is facing a suspended prison sentence and a huge fine. Welcome to the city's most delicious grudge match.
HIDDEN in Plain Sight
T&C was invited into the private archives and secret workshops of Paris, to glimpse the treasures that have made this city famous for its style and craftsmanship. It's a reputation worth fighting for.
GUARDIAN of Objects
Laura Kugel is the go-to art dealer for the world's most discerning clients, but her family's Paris wonderland is open to all. Come inside, won't you?
Ecole! Elysée! SCANDALE!
The path to the French White House requires a political education at one of the country's elite universities. As controversy swirls around Sciences Po-class treason, #MeToo à la française, creeping le wokisme-will its grip on power finally slip?
Are There Still Mysteries in Paris?
Surely not, in the world's most visited city! And yet: Why is the Louvre called the Louvre? Why do the upper stories of its 17th-century buildings tilt in? Why do even familiar streets feel so enticing, unknown? One thing is clear: So many of us return because the City of Light is really one of mesmerizing shadows.
High SEAS
How seductive is a cruise on an ultraluxury ship (yes, that's a category) like the new Regent Seven Seas Grandeur? So much so that a 132-day sailing sold out in three hours. It was time to investigate.
The Cruise Cure
One definition of bliss at sea is padding down a ship's hallway from your suite to the spa in a robe and slippers. Here's what awaits.
Only a Day to Spare?
These hotel spas-mini-me's of destination, health retreats punch way above their weight. So, if you're in the neighborhood...
So, Where Do You Ride in Paris?
A fancy equestrian's guide to the best of Gallic galloping.