Must-Try Saunas, Spas and Tea Services in PDX + NYC
aka some tips for surviving “winter misery”
Hi friends,
We’re rounding out the month of January with some thoughts on staying warm and being hot! We also make a case for buying something sparkly to combat seasonal affective and plug a new beauty Substack we’re both excited about.
Happy shopping, reading, eating!
Cait + Rach
Open Tabs
RKH: I’m very excited to not be pregnant or freshly not pregnant this year. Like I was telling you, Cait, my resolution/intention for 2025 is "be hotter" (lol). Currently shopping for both a red light mask and an at home teeth whitening light, and navigating the inevitable postpartum hair shedding with Nutrafol and a scalp scrub brush. I'm getting back into my regular Pilates routine, and am also interested in trying new classes/formats. My friend Darc and I were reminiscing on the SF days of trying sooo many different fitness things - the early morning spin before work (and waiting in line with 27 other girls to shower and get ready - why were we doing that?), FitMob (RIP), and trying whatever random class was available on ClassPass. I miss that!! I’m interested in trying some of the classes at woo-woo. Also on the getting hotter front, regular sauna /cold plunge excursions! I just tried the new SaunaGlo with my friends Becca and Joanna in Milwaukee, and it was so cute and perfect for an afternoon. In addition to old faithful Knot Springs, next on my list is trying Cascada, Pure Sweat Sauna Studio and a mineral bath at Root Wellness (inspired by the first issue of the!). In addition to winter misery escapes, it feels wise to take lessons from the Nordic cultures that happily survive winter with sauna + cold plunge. Bookmarking this recent Portland Monthly article of destination sauna experiences to try in the PNW.
Of course I always have to include my chaotic list of open tabs: this painting from local artist Abby Houston, a print of the Le Chevalier Aux Fleurs painting (why do I love this so much, idk! Saw it IRL at Musee D’Orsay last spring and fell in love), the Make Big Money long sleeve from Molly Beth Young, the Bernadette terry bathrobe, the shearling Moon Boot mules, this Petite Heirloom keepsake trunk, this faux fur jacket from Apparis, and this Prada ponyhair clutch on 1stDibs that’s been following me around the internet.
CP: Very into Marisa Meltzer’s newsletter too! Her swatch reports are right up our alley and made me want to buy this Westman Atelier red lipstick, not that I ever need a push in that direction.
I’ve been looking for little luxuries to brighten up my least favorite season — post-Christmas winter. I’m drawn to these Studio Deve earrings and this Frances Valentine ring. I also saw Romilly Newman post this “pocket angel” made by the musician Nick Cave thought it was such a cute trinket/gift idea. Lastly, I read this article in about signature scent shopping with and it affirmed that I need to order the travel size of Parade by Celine to try.
My other open tabs are just miscellaneous layering pieces to help me navigate the arctic temps in NYC. It’s been “feels like 5” for basically the whole month….So, I’m tempted to bundle up in this oversized menswear coat, this ivory rib cashmere scarf, this merino wool turtleneck, this fuzzy black knit v-neck sweater or this faux shearling coat. Getting dressed in the winter is so INVOLVED!
Closed Tabs
RKH: Planning on diving deeper into this in an upcoming send, but we also just got back from a very fun trip to Maui! We stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea and it was absolutely delightful!! I wouldn’t say my winter misery is cured, but this certainly helped.
I’m looking forward to receiving this art print collab for the baby’s room/our closet by my favs Katie Kimmel and Lorien Stern benefiting LA fire relief. On the shopping front, Kelly on TikTok posted about this Madewell tennis necklace months ago, and I finally snagged a silver one! The bezel setting makes it look much more expensive than it is (only $88!), and I've been getting compliments every time I wear it. A nice alternative to my chunkier Dorsey tennis necklace, and I can be much less precious about throwing it on. Also in accessories news, my simple Amazon chain nailed its audition and I'm officially a phone chain girly now! Finally pulled the trigger on the Ossa strawberry pave wristlet. I got my sister this brown suede tote from Etsy for Christmas, and was immediately jealous when it arrived and I had to wrap it up and give it away - decided I needed my own, and just got the Liffner tall dark brown suede penne tote. Rain be damned! Lonny also got me this Ralph Lauren martini glass hat for Christmas (so nice of her! Currently in stock and on sale at Bloomingdales, btw) and it feels like a fun “wintery” baseball cap.
CP: She’s a woman of taste, naturally!
My cart has been full of cozy, hibernation materials this Dry Jan (🫡 to anyone else participating). I’ve been leaning into inside time this month, or “wintroverting” as put it — a behavior veryyy counterintuitive to my normal pace. Some highlights include layering Uniqlo heat tech under this perfect crew neck sweater (kind of a The Row dupe, no?), reading the latest issue of Table Magazine, snagging these $30 Irish wool fuzzy slippers that Mike called “substantial” (complimentary??) and burning this limited-edition candle from OT fave Flamingo Estate that uses the eucalyptus that falls in their garden after a rain storm as part of the scent.
Little known fact about me — I’m a tea drinker 90% of the time. I love espresso, but my anxiety does not. So, coffee is a treat mostly reserved for weekends or vacations. I recently got super into a few new (to me!) teas that compliment my morning go-to, the Tea Pigs Earl Grey with bergamot. In the afternoon, I’ve been loving the Kettl buckwheat Soba Cha (a rec from OT contributor !). After dinner, I’ve been brewing a loose-leaf longevity blend from Ikaria, the island my family is from in Greece. I also HIGHLY recommend popping into Paquita, for anyone visiting NYC. Their loose leaf teas are incredible, especially the cardamom black tea that somehow tastes like hot cocoa. I also went to Sunday afternoon tea at Bar Blondeau (the rooftop restaurant at the Wythe hotel) two weeks ago and it was a true treat. Very cinematic to eat crustless sandwiches and catch up with a pal while looking out at the skyline as it gets dusted in snow.
In a similar, relaxing vein — I recently had a massage at the Hotel Chelsea Spa that was maybe the best I’ve had in NYC. The hotel itself is a marvel, too. Allegedly haunted (per Dolly Alderton) and recently renovated, art installations from famous residents still line every hallway and the ground floor private dining room still has the original renaissance-y fresco on the ceiling. The restaurant is lovely too, order the raviolo!
Also recently renovated, we had an excellent meal at the “new” F&F restaurant. I loved the perfectly balanced mezcal cynar cocktail (consumed pre-Dry Jan!), the sugo pork calzone and the retro-but-delicious chocolate lava cake. Attentive service, chic space, Italian comfort food — a dream.
Open Books
CP: I, like everyone on the internet, am putting down the book I’m currently reading (Didion & Babitz, incredible so far!) to binge-read Onyx Storm. I also just finished the most delightful book about time travel called The Book of Doors — my first five-star GoodReads ranking of the year. Next, I want to pick up The Wedding People after hearing Caroline (of Sentimental Garbage) rave that it was her favorite book of 2024. Fluffy, fantasy or immersive reads only for me until spring, especially while we are watching Severance — it’s so good, but some parts are nightmare-fuel!
RKH: I took your rec of State of Paradise, Cait, and am enjoying that so far! I finally got my hands on Die Hot with a Vengeance, and am really excited to dig into that. I’m also listening to Ina’s memoir and like everyone else am inspired by her tenacity and overall outlook on life. Also re: domestic icons, I finally watched Martha’s documentary and have had my love for her renewed! I’m excited about her new gardening book. Speaking of gardening (which I do not do, maybe this will spark something), I also have Pastoral Gardens in my cart! Looks so inspiring. Also on my to be read list - The Motherload, Perfection, Ambition Monster and James.
CP: I watched the Martha doc on Monday and felt the exact same! What a powerhouse.
Open Obsessions
CP: I’ve recently become obsessed with asking friends + fam to answer “very online” questionnaires — what’s in their Letterboxd top 4, what their Subway Take is, or what they think their “I don’t think so honey” would be. This past weekend, Mike and I spent a morning making our Dream Baby Press Love/Hate lists and it was SO fun. I genuinely want to know everyone’s answers — especially yours, Rach!! Maybe this is a future issue where you and I share our responses…
RKH: Oh I love this idea! Sign me up.
I don’t think I’ve ever talked about my love of low stakes, club-format friend hangs in this newsletter!. I was part of a very dedicated pre-pandemic era restaurant club in my SF days, and now am part of a movie club with my Portland gals! Book clubs have truthfully never worked for me … I think because I love reading so much on my own, and being told to read a book reminds me too much of suffering through a summer reading list. The low stakes club provides an ideal alternative!
In the case of the restaurant club, you rotate “hosts” and the host picks the restaurant and plans pre-dinner cocktails at their place. We always had the restaurant remain a surprise to all, and the pre drinks typically provided some kind of clue. So fun! Some memorable clubs: Bix, Al’s Place (RIP), Mandalay, and Alba Ray’s (not in the best way lol IYKYK). With movie club, the host picks a movie to watch, and we all watch prior to next month’s sesh and discuss. This month’s pick was The Substance and I genuinely cannot wait to debrief. I can’t stop thinking about it! Demi is certainly not a popcorn actress.
Ultimately what matters most in any of these formats is the calendared regular hang that always stand regardless of who attends. If you miss, you catch next month! Having this on the books, for me, helps me feel like I’m seeing friends regularly with very low additional planning or effort. I’ve seen cookbook clubs, craft clubs, cocktail clubs, and of course there are countless fitness focused options. On the Portland spa exploration front, we also discussed a standing date… spa club?! Say less.
That’s all for issue #13! To see more of what we ate, linked to or chatted about in this letter, follow our Instagram @opentabsletter or shop all of our issues here.
