22: Where Cool Lives Right Now

A snapshot of design, travel, sound, and innovation in 2025

Author

Jason Bass
March 24, 2025

This issue of The Bassport is all about intentional design, modern luxury, and cultural storytelling. We’re stepping inside Lacoste’s reimagined country club in Melrose, soaking up sound and soul at Hotel Saint Vincent in New Orleans, and spotlighting the biggest trends shaping 2025—where quality, character, and nostalgia are leading the way. Plus, we’ve got the ultimate kitchen gear list, a deep dive into boutique hotel building, and a look at how Range Rover is personalizing the future of luxury travel. Expect smart takes, beautiful spaces, and stories that live where culture and lifestyle meet.

  • Lacoste’s Melrose Place “Country Club” Is the Coolest Court in Town

  • The Hotel I Can’t Stop Thinking About in New Orleans

  • What’s Hot in 2025: Timeless Over Trendy

  • The Kitchen List You Didn’t Know You Needed

  • How to Build a Hotel That Feels Like It’s Always Been There

  • Range Rover’s Take on Personalization = Next-Level Flex

Lacoste’s Melrose Place “Country Club” Is the Coolest Court in Town

Tennis never looked this chic. Lacoste just dropped a Melrose-exclusive experience that blends vintage heritage with modern luxury—think 1930s France meets 2025 Los Angeles. The space leans into the elegance of a fictional country club, layered with soft tones, leafy greens, and a surprisingly stylish table tennis setup anchoring the vibe. It’s refined, playful, and inclusive—an IRL manifestation of Lacoste’s past and future in one space.

The Hotel I Can’t Stop Thinking About in New Orleans

Historic bones, modern soul. Hotel Saint Vincent is tucked into New Orleans' Lower Garden District, and while the Italian-Creole restaurant and private bar check all the boxes, it’s the sounds of the city that echo loudest. Drums on street corners. Brass bands leading a second line. That call-and-response energy you only get in NOLA. Sit me on the shaded veranda and let me take it all in. I’ll be back—again and again.

What’s Hot in 2025: Timeless Over Trendy

A few months in, and 2025 is already asking us to slow down and choose wisely. From fashion to tech to food, the move is toward fewer, better things. Quality over quantity. We’re seeing a return to the classic, the real, the lived-in. And let’s be honest—there’s nothing cooler than something (or someone) who knows exactly who they are.

The Kitchen List You Didn’t Know You Needed

The Strategist’s Kitchen 100 is like a cheat code for home cooks. We’re talking tools and gadgets that actually work, curated by people who live in their kitchens. Whether you’ve been rocking the same Vitamix since Obama’s first term or just moved into your first place—this is the list.

How to Build a Hotel That Feels Like It’s Always Been There

Hospitality isn’t just a business—it’s a calling. Bobby Quintal proves that with every property he touches. From reviving New Orleans icons to developing brand-new experiences like Hotel Henrietta, he’s crafting places that feel like memory and magic. The kind of spots where food, culture, and good design all sit at the same table.

Range Rover’s Take on Personalization = Next-Level Flex

Personalization isn’t just a feature anymore—it’s the expectation. Range Rover is moving past factory settings and into custom territory, letting buyers play designer with exclusive paints, textures, and interiors. The result? Cars that feel less like vehicles and more like you.

Your Turn What’s on your radar this month? Travel plans? Fashion moves? Tech obsessions? Hit me up—I want to hear what’s got you excited.

Until next time, keep the vibes high.

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