It all started in 2010. I was at the Nampa Public Library with a friend, looking for books to borrow. That’s when I stumbled upon Just Kids by Patti Smith, sitting on top of a pile of books. I had never heard of her before, so I picked it up without any idea of what I was about to discover.
The book swept me into her life in New York City—a place I hadn’t really imagined much about before. Growing up on the West Coast, I had always stuck to this side of the country. But before I knew it, I was completely enthralled. I couldn’t stop researching the rich history of NYC, the artists who lived there, and most importantly, the Chelsea Hotel.
I became obsessed. I kept saying, “I’m going to move to the Chelsea Hotel.” But to my disappointment, it closed for renovations in 2011, and that dream of being an artist living in the hotel started to fade. Instead, I moved to Seattle, where I went to university.
In 2016, two years after graduating, I decided to move to New York City. The city still had a pull on me. I settled in quickly and would often visit the Chelsea Hotel, even though it was closed and boarded up. Just seeing the building that had inspired me so deeply meant a lot.
In late 2022, the hotel finally reopened, and I had my first stay there—a real dream come true. These days, I just stop by the lobby bar for some afternoon tea… but still, 14 years later, this hotel holds a special place in my heart. It's become part of my brand now too—I often find myself taking photos of my tea alongside my products.