The Leisure Letter

Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles, the Beverly Hills Hotel stands as an emblem of opulence and mystique. Tucked away along the outstretched arm of the sunset strip, the iconic “pink palace” has been a source of glamor and...

Picture yourself beneath the Waving Frond. A small spot of shade on a vast stretch of beach. Sweet, sweet seclusion. Here is the oasis that we seek – and as in all seeking, perhaps there is an element of escape...

There is a certain side we seek. Some call it the best side. I call it Poolside. It is here, in this serene space between land and water, that we discover a unique blend of opulence, relaxation, and obsessive allure.

The story starts way back when . . . and still further back than that. For the sake of modesty, we’ll dip our toes in just a few millenia past, at the deep end of the Mediterranean, where lies the fabled peninsula of the Balkans . . . Greece.

Leisure Letter 79 takes us in search of the evanescent Shangri-La, a locale sought by many and found by few. Join us on our search.

Pack Like A Dandy, What we never board a flight without.

On the advice of a dear friend I recently became engaged in sports. “You’re just too high strung,” he said. “These sports will help you.” It was good advice. There would be no football, basketball, baseball etc . . ....

The humidity is sweetly perfumed. Gardenia, plumeria. The air stirs softly along the breezeway of the Royal Palm Hotel. A fountain trinkles somewhere out of sight. A divine orchestration of form and space. Ornate, intelligent Spanish design. A lush courtyard...

So it’s the New Year and everything has changed so much for me since last year and it’s all because of this wonderful thing called sauna . . . The Finnish were the first people to utilize the sauna, so...

A list of the five best beaches not to miss on your next tour de leisure