I credit my younger daughter, Jenny, with supplementing my classic rock playlist with some of the great acts in 21st-century music. My husband scored major points with both of us when he presented us on Valentine’s Day with the offer of tickets to a Coldplay concert when the band came to Portland on its current Mylo Xyloto tour. He secured seats in the lower bowl of Portland’s Rose Quarter Arena (home of the NBA Trailblazers) — perfect!

Tuesday evening we made our way to downtown Portland’s Pearl District for dinner before the show. The Pearl has been transforming over the last 15 years or so from a light-industrial and warehouse district to a vibrant area boasting restaurants; bars; an eclectic mix of shops, galleries and businesses; and attractive condos and apartments. We found parking in a lot for $4 for up to 12 hours after 6 p.m., strolled a block to the Brix Tavern, and enjoyed a delicious dinner and drinks in the comfortable restaurant/sports bar housed in a refurbished warehouse (surprisingly bright and welcoming).

Choosing to skip paying $13 for parking at the arena (and dealing with the after-concert traffic), we walked about six blocks to catch a MAX light-rail train for the (free-zone) five-minute ride across the river to a stop right outside the Rose Garden. Arriving about 8 p.m., we caught a little of the second opening act and settled in to enjoy the show.

Coldplay appeared right at 9 p.m. and played for more than 90 minutes, with the crowd on its feet the entire time. There were plenty of lasers, confetti cannons, beach ball-sized balloons and even multicolored flashing wristbands on every audience member, which lit up via some remotely controlled wizardry during key numbers. We were quite a distance from the stage, but multiple screens suspended from the ceiling gave us close-up views of the band.

Our biggest thrill of the evening came as the performance drew to a close. The first encore song was performed not on stage but from a perch just five rows above our seats — it was like a private concert just 20 feet from where we stood. Now that was cool!

My ears have pretty much recovered from Tuesday’s performance, but the memories of a great night with my daughter will be with me for years to come . . . and I do have a few good shots of Chris Martin just a few feet away from me, to boot!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor