How To: Con Finn Woodhouse Easter Eggs

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!!

Every story I write really does have Easter Eggs that, yes, you have to hunt for. Some are easier to spot than others, some I won’t ever directly say are true or not—I’ll let you guys figure them out—and some aren’t really “Easter Eggs” but actual places that I’ve been to/go to that are mentioned in the story. When I write, I do actually write with experiences and places in mind. So, I’ll write a few of them here and if you saw any yourself, go ahead and comment your theories or questions below.

Comments are open on this one!

#1 — Mill Valley

Mill Valley is the setting of HTCFW for the most part and it’s one of my favorite towns ever. Like ever. I’m a Bay Area native and there is just something really special to me about Marin County. I’m sure the people who live there think it’s boring, and that may be true, but it’s also gorgeous… and it felt like the perfect place for the Woodhouse Estate to live in. I can’t imagine it being anywhere else.

#2 — Kokkari

Holly and Finn go on a date to a place called Kokkari Estiatorio, which is a real restaurant in San Francisco. I love this place. The food is amazing. I also love Greek food, and this is the best Greek food I’ve had since being in Greece. It’s expensive (and trust me, I am never ordering what Holly orders), but man is it good! Kokkari is in the Financial District which makes it perfect to stop by after work or even during lunch before they close for the afternoon. I highly recommend if you ever visit SF!

#3 — Amoeba Music

How many hours have I spent at Amoeba?? So many. Amoeba is a pretty well known record store in SF and Berkeley. The one in SF is basically a gigantic warehouse full of records. I’ve bought so much Milky Chance from them. Milky Chance is one of my favorite bands. I’ve seen them 4x. My friends and I would run around the SF one in the Haight at least once a month. So when Finn and Flora go there and look for records, that was a real experience I’ve had and definitely a good move if you want to impress a date who likes music.

*I’ll add that I’ve never been with a date LOL, always with my friends, sister, dad, or alone*

Also, keep in mind: it’s located in the famous Haight-Ashbury district. I lived in this district for a while a few years ago and while I got used to it, it’s not for the faint of heart!

#4 — Le Bourbon Paris

My mom stayed at home from when I was 3-17 years old and she loved Paris so much, she decorated our house to look like places she loved in Paris. Isn’t that awesome? Shout out to my mom! She didn’t get to travel there too often—being a mom is hard work!—but she did take me when I was three and I’ll never forget seeing the Eiffel Tower! My mom reports I squealed.

Now, I’ve been to Paris a few times and one trip there I ate at the same place every night for literally no reason other than I really liked their burger and I didn’t want to have to try to read another menu in French (sorry to all my lovely French readers)—that place was Le Bourbon. So, Flora mentions this place (though not the burger because she’s a vegetarian) when she is panicking about Manon actually coming for their group hang out.

Fun fact: The waiter here told me that he wanted to live in California so he could see celebrities. I told him that as a Californian, I don’t even see celebrities that often!!

#5 — La Rue de Varenne

And on the topic of Paris, La Rue de Varenne is an actual street in Paris in the 7th. And it’s just a street… but every time I’ve been to Paris, I stay on this street in this tiny little hotel. I think next time I go back, I’ll switch it up (the last time I was there the bed springs were going into my back and I was OVER IT), but this street is beautiful and very close to a lot of sights! So, this is why Flora’s apartment is located here. A tribute to my old Paris habits. Also slightly scarred from walking 32,000 steps in one day on one of my trips.

#6—Dubonnet by MAC

The color I wore in Italy. Ignore my badly painted fingernails!

Y’all when I tell you my lipstick/gloss collection is out of control, you best believe me! I am a lipstick lover because I often don’t wear a ton of make-up on a day to day basis and lipstick is so helpful to make you look less sickly—I am very pale. Don’t get me wrong, I love make-up, but I’m not wearing it everyday when I’m at home or running errands or going to pilates. However, I am usually wearing a fun lip color, sunscreen, and maybe a little blush on the daily. Maybe I’ll do a make-up post sometime. Though that is crossing out of my “author” territory.

So, when Flora goes on her date with Alexandre, I gave a shoutout to one of my all time favorite red lipsticks—Dubonnet by M.A.C. It’s got blue undertones and I prefer that to orange undertones with red lipsticks, and it looks amazing on literally everyone I’ve seen it on!! So, Flora had to wear it too…

Questions? Comments? Spinning any theories? Catch any Camp Easter Eggs?

Comment below!

xx RJ