What I Packed

For this trip, I challenged myself to bring three outfits featuring something I sewed, plus an empty suitcase to fill with T&T snacks. It was a fun mix of function and fashion, knowing I’d have something handmade to wear every day.

WHAT I SHOULD HAVE LEFT BEHIND:

• My camera, since I couldn’t take it into the concert. My Samsung S25 Ultra camera absolutely held its own – especially at Benson Boone’s concert.
• The cowboy hats. They were cute in theory, but too much to lug around the city.

WHAT I FORGOT

• Baby wipes. I remain a messy toddler at heart.

The Flight and a Good Book

My favourite time to read a physical book is always on the plane. This trip, I brought Secret of a Thousand Beauties by Mingmei Yip, gifted by my best friend’s mom. It’s about a Chinese girl in the feudal era who escapes an arranged marriage and becomes an embroiderer. The story felt like a perfect companion for someone who loves sewing, heritage, and creative storytelling.

Day One: Tiki Drinks and the Richmond Night Market

We stayed with my mom’s friends in Coquitlam and navigated the SkyTrain to their home. They greeted us with a home-cooked meal topped off with vanilla ice cream and fresh blackberries from their backyard.

That night, I reunited with my BCIT best friends at The Shameful Tiki Room in Vancouver. I ordered the Designated Driver, a zero-proof spicy piña colada.

Afterward, my future sister-in-law and I headed to the Richmond Night Market. We arrived around 10 p.m., just as the crowds were thinning and the closing sales were beginning. Most vendors were offering items for $5 sales on food and trinkets.

Day Two: Breakfast & Chinatown

We started the day with breakfast at Coffee & Vanilla in Coquitlam. Their ham and cheese croissant and London fog hit the spot. Beside the café, an all-you-can-eat Filipino restaurant is opening soon, so that’s already on the list for our next family trip.

Then it was off to Chinatown, where I got a tattoo from @tat.soy. While waiting for my appointment, we visited the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, where I bought a beautiful box of mooncakes made by Daan Go, a MasterChef Canada alumnus.

Ink & Inspiration

I wanted to cover up an old Vegas tattoo, and Soy’s delicate, colourful style was perfect.

MY NEW TATTOO INCLUDES:

• Silent Princess flowers from Zelda
• Arrow, necklace, and sakura flowers from Inuyasha
• Jellyfish from Princess Jellyfish (a nod to my love for fashion and dressmaking)
• Togepi, my favourite Pokémon

Now I’m dreaming of expanding it into a full forearm sleeve that ties into my upper arm tattoo.

A Sugar-Fuelled Intermission

After my tattoo appointment, we refuelled up on Jollibee ube pie, Breka’s matcha cream puff, and white peach iced tea.

Lunch at Di Beppe & Thrifting

We met friends at Di Beppe, a charming Italian café. I ordered a zero-proof Aperol Spritz and the carbonara with rigatoni pasta — the crispy bacon pieces made it divine.

Afterward, we went thrift shopping, where I scored a thick leather belt for $20. A serious steal considering most others I saw started around $200.

Benson Boone

The main event, Benson Boone. It was 8 p.m. and I was already an exhausted toddler. But I rallied for Benny, and it was not hard to do.

His performance was electric. His vocal range, humour, and showmanship were incredible. And yes, his rhinestone-heart butt-cheek leather and suede pants deserve their own applause. The staging felt cinematic, especially during Mr. Electric Blue, which built up like the finale of Moulin Rouge.

I appreciated him sharing his grief about the song, “In the Stars”, and boy could he make the crowd laugh. I have a 10-minute video of him asking a the crowd if they have ever been in love before, and it doesn’t go how you expect.

After the show, as we picked up our checked bags. (PRO TIP: Rogers Arena letsyou check food and other items at Gate 6 for free.)

A woman came up to me while we grabbed our bags and said she’d seen me earlier downtown in my Josie & the Pussycats outfit. She’d almost rolled down her window to yell how good I looked and was thrilled to run into me so she could say it in person. The perfect encore to an unforgettable night.

Day Three: The T&T Sprint

We woke up early for one last stop — the T&T Supermarket in Lansdowne, Richmond, which opens at 8 a.m. and is 10 minutes away from the airport.

PRO TIP: You can bring food on planes now, as long as it passes through the X-ray scanner. Our beef and onion steamed buns made everyone around us jealous.

Also, if you are at T&T and love Pocky, buy enough of the coconut flavour to last a small apocalypse.