Window shopping #7
Luggage with history, a hotel with silence, and a dessert that reminded me of who I used to be
This is Window Shopping, a weekly mini-letter from Window Seat—your stylish scroll through what’s new and noteworthy in the world of travel. Each issue blends timely headlines, personal favorites, and design-forward hotels to keep your wanderlust well-fed.
More companies are ditching influencer getaways in favor of flying out real customers—think superfans, loyal shoppers, and everyday users. It’s a softer sell, sure, but a smarter one, with the idea being that regular people make more relatable content, and earned trips drive more long-term brand loyalty than transactional ones.
If you love the patina of a well-traveled Rimowa but could never justify the splurge, this is your sign. Thanks to the brand’s Re-Crafted program (which just landed in the U.S.) you can buy secondhand Rimowa luggage with all the character and charm of the preloved bags included. They’re authenticated, restored, and sold for as low as $600. If you’re in the market, act quick.
It started with an offhand glance at the Instagram Explore Page. An image caught my eye: a ranking of, allegedly, The Top Desserts in NYC.
Now, I’m not a big sweets person. But one thing to know about me is that I will always look at the dessert menu. (As an aside, I like to think this says something deeper about me, though I’m still working out what exactly.) I’ll order dessert here and there, but few ever really pique my interest.
It wasn’t until I scanned that ranking that I noticed my very favorite dessert—one I’d never seen on any other menu—was just three stops away on the G train.
Yellow cake with chocolate frosting.
The birthday dessert my mom made to mark the passage of time as I grew up. Nothing fancy. Just a box of cake mix and frosting from a can. But made with love, just for me.
That’s exactly what Bar Bête has on their dessert menu—yellow cake with chocolate frosting, at least. The made with love part? That remained to be seen.
So I made a reservation (easily, thank god—no small feat these days) and went.
When the cake finally arrived—capping off an obnoxiously indulgent meal—I surprised myself by hesitating. I think it was because I already knew it couldn’t possibly taste the way I wanted it to: like the feeling of having no responsibilities, no stress, no anxiety over lingering tax deadlines or unread emails. No constant tightrope between self-care and ambition. Just childhood. When someone always remembered your birthday. And always baked you a cake.
I haven’t quite felt like myself lately. Homesick for my family, yes—but also homesick for a self I know is still in there, just a little out of reach.
A slice of yellow cake with chocolate frosting, maybe not made with love but made for me, reminded me: even when you feel far from yourself, something sweet can still find you.
Otro—Oaxaca, Mexico
Here’s a hotel designed with intention and aesthetics in mind in beautiful Oaxaca City. What first called out to me were the gorgeous textures—volcanic stone, brutalist concrete, and warm wood. The rooftop pool is there if you need it. (So is the mezcal.) To me, this looks like the kind of place where the silence feels curated, and the light in the morning does most of the talking.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).
Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.
I loved reading about the cake!!!!
Love you ❤️🍰