A sensory explosion. I walked in and felt something special. What is it? Where am I? Amsterdam? Japan? A time capsule or a time machine? It took me a few seconds to realize, this was different. The sound, the design, the space, the objects all very intentional. There's not a lot here but that's the point. In a world of over-merchandising, heavy-handedness, and appealing to the masses, I felt connected to the simplicity and thought behind every element.
I looked at my VERRRRY patient partner with a grin and said, "I'm staying." I just sat there. I chopped it up with Tommy who runs the shop and then I met Conway, the human behind Hudson Wilder.
I sat there for 2.5 hours (probably overstaying my welcome, to be honest), but I was captivated. It felt like a psychedelic trip—just without the psilocybin. We talked about wine, the Tuscan vineyard/farm where they recently stayed and now source some of their wines from, the history of this space, Conway's background, how it all came together, and even how I'd go about hosting a party here. :)
A stumble-upon. An accidental pop-in. This space is one of the many reasons why I love this city. It's been right here 15 minutes from my home. It's the humans behind these ideas that inspire me to turn the volume all the way up and just go for it. What a magical spot.