July 31, 2015: YYZ -> EWR -> NYC

5 AM wake up call: mom and I fleeted to get ready (albeit our uber was 15 minutes late) for our much anticipated mother/daughter trip – waiting 20 years calls for a rather hasty morning sans coffee.

Our arrival at the airport foreshadowed the rest of the weekend. We saw two families we knew in the customs line, which made the dreaded process more bearable. Our customs officer was the nicest, most lively woman we’ve come across, which proves there’s a first for everything. We also managed to get seats next to each other, which is a big deal for a mama’s girl.

Upon our arrival, we got a little lost when looking for our hotel, that delayed our NYC touring time by approx. 45 precious minutes – plus, the heat and humidity got to our hair. We stayed at Roommate Grace, this super cute, art deco-ish, retro-y, boutique hotel. We dropped our bags and made our way to SoHo. Since we already exhausted our legs from the slight detour, aka getting lost, we opted for the subway (when in NY, ammiright?).

En route, we made friends with the super-handsome, super helpful Nicholas. It’s important to note that his real name is unknown, but out of respect, my mom and I took it upon ourselves to give a name to the face. He looked smart, approachable, handsome and respectable, so Nicholas seemed fitting #whatsinaname. He helped us find our way while giving us something nice to look at, thank you Nicholas.

SoHo being my favorite area of New York, I had a list of places to take my mom. First thing’s first, we hit up Jack’s Wife Freda on Lafayette. As anticipated, there was a long line outside. 30 minutes under the scorching sun ain’t cute, but it’s nothing a little avocado toast can’t fix. Lowkey one of the best avo toasts I’ve ever eaten. The tomato jam and sprinkle of zaatar was simple, refreshing and slightly genius. No lie, I only wanted to go for an insta pic of the menu #doitforthegram, but the ambience and wait staff are incomparable. 10/10 will do again. We also had an awesome waiter with an unrecognizable accent. Love him as much as I love the toast.

Fueled up and refreshed, mom and I embarked on our SoHo spree. We went to & Other Stories and immediately fell in love; like head over their beautiful heels in love. I loved it so much I don’t want it to come to Toronto so it remain as lowkey as possible (all about that supply and demand). Other favorite spots were BLK DNM, Scoop NYC and the small Bloomy’s where my mom got me the Vince sliders I’d been lusting over. Thanks Ma. Whilst on our window shopping high we went to Madewell, where arguably the greatest thing happened to me…I bumped into Rachel Martino. Literally bumped into her as I held the door open from my mom as we bumped shoulders while trying to simultaneously walk through the door. I’d never met a blogger and it only seemed appropriate for it to be in NY. We talked, took some pics, laughed a little, all while I tried no to shart my shorts. As lovely IRL as she is online, it was damn cool meeting someone I’d been following for years.

Anyways, I digress to our failed (but not really) mission to find Magnolia Bakery. My mom has never had their banana pudding…tragedy, I know. Stupid me thought it was in SoHo when it’s really in Greenwhich, and yet my confusion turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We walked miles on miles, practically in circles searching for Magnolia, but came across something else, something better, along the way: By Chloe, the restaurant. I own one of Chef Choe’s vegan cookbooks, so naturally I wanted to visit her super cute resto.

Luckily, she was there and we met and I love her and it was sick. And OMG her food is delicious. Her “meatball” sub deserves all the superlatives; even my mom was impressed. The food, the aesthetic, and the crowd are all worth noting, I can’t wait to try the rest of the menu.

Now with even more food in our bellies, we set off to discover what’s new in Greenwhich (I swear there’s something new every year).

Two words: Anine Bing. I was so glad to finally see the store and try the Charlie boots. The silver hardware babies are mine. Like love at first sight I couldn’t take my eyes off them. By in my peripherals I could see my moms eyes bug out as well. Lo and behold, there stands THE Helena Christensen, OG supermodel of the ’90s.

My mom, a total groupie, could. not. even. I had never seen her in such a state. It wasn’t like a fangirl freakout but her eyes glazed over with this serene adoration. Lowkey it was kinda scary.

Dinner happened around 10 pm at Eataly. The normally amazing food turned out to be mediocre because we were too hungry to even enjoy it. Pasta was pasta; salad was salad. Once the food arrived, we turned into ravenous bottom feeders who would eat anything at that point.

August 1, 2015: Rack City

Today we ate at some shitty Rockefeller café thing, where I had the worst omelet and broke out immediately (s/o to my egg allergy). Rough start, but we needed the energy for Saks, Barneys, Berdorfs, etc. Today was also a good day. I finally got to go home (by ‘home’ I mean the aforementioned stores).

Of course I found a few shoes, Lanvin bag, Balenciaga bracelet, LV agenda and Vince leather jacket, but who’s counting. I digress. Bergdorfs is obviously gorgeous; it should be considered a museum. My mom was too busy looking at the damn walls than the actual merchandise.

At Barneys I tried on the love knot ring by Finn Jewelry (made by Casey Neistat’s wife, Candice) and of course I want that too *cue Fashion Killa by ASAP Rocky*

By this point, we were starving. We were so distracted that we forgot to eat… and we NEVER forget to eat…

Of course we couldn’t find a place that suited our fancy, so the search for food made us even hungrier (think feral, rabid hyena type of hungry). Fast forward another 20 minutes, we found this sick Mediterranean place but just our luck, they don’t open until five. Um bye betch ain’t nobody got time for that.

We continued to walk until my mom pointed out a restaurant a few steps away. Without thinking we marched in and simultaneously said “2 please”.

The restaurant was Le Bilboquet. Google and bookmark this, you’re welcome. I swear we were probably eating with really important Europeans, like diplomats or something. Even the air was prestigious, unlike the polluted outside air. Honestly the food was too good that nothing I say will give it justice. Order the octopus thing. Trust me.

After walking for another 3 hours we ended off the night with Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds and J. Lo’s Enough.

August 2, 2015: Le Fin

On our last day, we went back to Jack’s Wife Freda, where we sat in the same spot and had the same waiter. Cheers to Gerald the waiter and the avo toast.

We hit up The Highline, Chelsea Market and the Meatpacking District but nothing is worth noting because when we went back to SoHo for the fourth time in three days. THE greatest thing happened to me (sorry Rachel). I met CASEY F***ING NEISTAT. I’d been watching this guy since I was 14 years old. I watch his vlogs every morning before I go to school. I even wrote my grade 11 media ISU on him. Although I looked calm, cool and collected when I spoke to him, I immediately started crying afterward.

So here’s what went down:

I was standing outside Opening Ceremony when he and Candice just happened to be walking down the same sidewalk. His elbow brushed mine (fairytale like, I know) so instinctually I looked to my side. What came out of my mouth sounding like “Casey? Omg I’m a huge fan” where he responding with “haha no way that’s sick.” Like holy crap right? And me being timid me couldn’t ask for a pic because I felt bad. WTF is ‘feel bad’ when you’re talking about Casey Neistat. Whatever.

And here’s the thing. The day before when I tried on his wife’s jewelry I explained to my mom who Candice, and therefore who Casey are. Then, on this very morning on the Highline I explained Beme, Casey’s new app, to my mom. I practically exclaimed my love for him in the process and a few hours later I actually met him.

This is proof enough for me that The Secret is real or that there really is a god. Idk but I don’t believe in coincidence…

Until next time New York, thank you for always being good to me.