
Dylan Hales is the owner of The Flower Shop, home of Canal Street Dreams! He’s also the mind behind other classic spots like Loosie’s, Little Ways and more. We catch up and talk how The Flower Shop was created, our new restaurant pop-up, projects...
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Eddie
Hi, Zoe Saldana.
Dylan Hales
Welcome to T Mobile.
Eddie
Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us.
Natasha
Thanks.
Eddie
And here's my old phone to trade in. You don't need to trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro.
Dylan Hales
Plus we'll help you pay off your old phone.
Eddie
Up to 800 bucks and you still.
Dylan Hales
Get to keep it.
Natasha
There's always a trade in.
Dylan Hales
Not right now.
Eddie
At T Mobile. I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma. That's okay. I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see.
Natasha
Hand sanitizer.
Eddie
It's lavender. I'm good. Seriously. Let me check this pocket.
Natasha
Oh, mints.
Eddie
Really, I'm fine.
Natasha
Oh, I have raisins.
Dylan Hales
I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car.
Eddie
It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile, get a new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple intelligence on us, no trade in needed. We'll even pay off your Phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits.
Dylan Hales
New line $100 plus a month on experience beyond finance agreement. $999.99 and qualifying. Ported for well qualified plus tax and $10 connection charge.
Eddie
Pay off via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits end and balance due if you pay off early or cancel mobile.com.
Natasha
Hi guys. Welcome back. We're here this week with Dylan. You may know him from the flower shop. He is the owner of the flower shop and our good friend.
Eddie
He's our new landlord.
Natasha
He's our new.
Eddie
That was a good intro, babe. That was a good intro. Natasha did the intro this week.
Dylan Hales
You guys aren't paying rent though.
Eddie
No, no, no.
Natasha
You're our landlord. Servants, I would say you're our benefactor. Landlord.
Eddie
He's our partner. He's our partner. No, I'm kidding. Dylan. Dylan Tames. That's how I pronounce it, right? Why is the. Why is the Instagram Tames.
Dylan Hales
Oh, it's my middle. My middle initials or whatever.
Eddie
Oh, okay.
Dylan Hales
Hill.
Eddie
Well, cuz we met outside. I don't really know the government name. Dylan Hales.
Dylan Hales
That's it. Yeah.
Eddie
Dylan Hales. I like that. I like that you can be friends with someone for like five months and not know their actual.
Natasha
It's okay.
Dylan Hales
People still have people in your phone where it's like that you met 10 years ago and it says like Dylan the flower shop. And like we've been good friends for 10 years.
Eddie
You know, SL 500 big body.
Dylan Hales
Yeah. Or say, like. Oh, yeah. Well, other. Other more explicit ones as well.
Natasha
But it's okay.
Dylan Hales
I'm sure this. I'm sure that you've got, like, good friends in your phone, and in their phone, it says, like, Eddie Bohouse, something like that. You know, that's it.
Eddie
China King. I was trying to King.
Natasha
I've been invited to a wedding as she. A blanca.
Dylan Hales
Oh, yeah.
Natasha
Not my name. Not. Not at all my name.
Eddie
Yeah. Actually, two weddings. They invited you by your sh.
Natasha
Blanca. I've been invited to many people. Just. They're like, shia. I'm like, not my name made up.
Eddie
Y.
Dylan Hales
So I guess basically, you know, call me whatever you want, as long as you call me is what. There you go.
Eddie
Yeah. Yeah. I love. No, you're the second person on the show where we didn't actually know their government name. Like, Jubilee. I was like, who's Jessica Gentile? And she's like, dude, that's me.
Dylan Hales
That's funny. But I actually need to call her as well. But I. I'll do it off.
Eddie
Oh, my God. My allergies killing me. Oh, my God. It looks like I did, like, loads of cocaine last night, but I did not. I have terrible allergies.
Dylan Hales
Yeah. So these. These two have got really bad allergies, and I'm sweating from the gym, so.
Eddie
Yeah.
Dylan Hales
But yes. I don't know.
Eddie
Nobody did any cocaine.
Dylan Hales
I don't know what this going to look like.
Eddie
Holy. I'm down bad from the allergies in New York. But. No. What's it called? We're. We're very excited. We should talk about this new concept. We're rolling out here.
Dylan Hales
Let's do it.
Eddie
Gazebo at the flower shop. You know, I feel like the first night I came back to New York, I met you.
Dylan Hales
Yes.
Eddie
You have been integral in my, like, return to New York. And you took me to the Knicks Celtics game where we got washed up.
Dylan Hales
Yes, we did. We got. Yeah, I think it was like. I think we lost by about 25. It was like 25 or 28 points or something. Yeah, it was terrible.
Eddie
Terrible. But we had a good time.
Dylan Hales
Had a fantastic time. Yeah.
Eddie
And then we went on a man date like a week later.
Dylan Hales
I think we went on a couple of those.
Eddie
A couple mandates. We ate. You weren't in town yet. You were still in Boston.
Natasha
Okay.
Dylan Hales
There was some mandates. There was some books involved. Yeah, there was actually one. Remember, there was that one walk in the rain.
Natasha
Yeah.
Eddie
We had walking the rain together like.
Dylan Hales
Two miles on a Saturday night. And I was like, all right. He was. He was heading home afterwards, and he, like, walked me from, you know, out we. On. We have a spot on West Broadway called Little Ways, and Eddie and I had dinner there.
Eddie
Yeah.
Dylan Hales
And then he walked me from there to. To our. To our friend's bar, the Mulberry Bar on Mulberry street in the pouring rain. Yeah.
Eddie
It's fully two miles.
Natasha
You have had more dinners with him in New York than I have had since we've moved back. Oh, no, no, truly. We've had, like, two dinners together.
Eddie
He looks so good, though.
Natasha
I know. It's like, how could. How could I be? I'm not offering this. I don't have any basketball knowledge. You're like. You're, like, taking my spot.
Eddie
No. But we came back to New York, and one of our biggest goals was, like, if we're gonna own a restaurant, we want to do it in New York.
Dylan Hales
Yes.
Eddie
And when I came back, Maxwell, Our very good friend Maxwell Osborne.
Dylan Hales
Shout out Max. Yep.
Eddie
You know, was just like, eddie, I can't go to the Nick game tonight. Do you want to go with Dylan? And then I feel like from there, we've just been talking about this non.
Dylan Hales
Stop all day, every day.
Eddie
Yeah.
Dylan Hales
Yeah.
Eddie
It's beautiful when shit comes together like that. Like, I literally landed, wiped my ass, showered, and met you at the Nick game. And now we got a restaurant opening June 11.
Dylan Hales
I think when something happens so naturally and so organically like that, it's just like, it's easy and it's just meant to be, you know?
Eddie
Yeah. It was funny, too, because I had lots of conversations with other restaurateurs and stuff because I had mentally put you in the Hobie bucket. I was like, we're just going to shred. Like, me and this dude. We're just going to eat dinner, go on long walks in the rain. We're going to shred. And we were having dinner at, like, another restaurant. Open a kiss. Yeah. We were having dinner at another restaurant. I was talking to someone, and you're just like, brother, why have you not. Why. Why are we. Why are we not.
Dylan Hales
I know exactly who you're talking to.
Eddie
Yeah. Yeah. And like, it. This thing has come together so quickly since then. It's been amazing.
Dylan Hales
It has been amazing. Yeah.
Eddie
Yeah.
Dylan Hales
So June. June 11th.
Eddie
June 11th. What's. What's. What are you most excited about? I'm curious.
Dylan Hales
I think I'm just. I think I am. Well, I think. I think that you guys, you know, doing something back in New York after such a long time Is, Is, you know, obviously going to be highly anticipated. And I think I'm. I think what I'm most excited about, besides the obvious, which is, you know, the food, is the mix of folks that are going to come through here that we either mutually know or that, you know, know each other or, or are going to meet and become, you know, figure out they're going to be best friends and all that sort of thing, you know, which is like, comes back to what we've always wanted to do, you know, here and at all our venues, which is like create a sense of community, you know.
Eddie
Yeah. It's like a real world colliding thing. Because even the first time I came to see Natasha in New York, this is where we went the first night.
Dylan Hales
I love that.
Eddie
We sat right down there.
Dylan Hales
That's so great.
Eddie
Yeah.
Natasha
Sat right in the sun.
Dylan Hales
That's so.
Eddie
Yes.
Natasha
And we kissed.
Eddie
Yeah, we kissed. It wasn't raining.
Natasha
There was no romantic walks.
Eddie
Let me know how there was. There was a romantic walk too. To your crib that I wasn't allowed in.
Natasha
Oh, yeah.
Dylan Hales
Then that's it.
Eddie
We walked.
Natasha
No boys allowed.
Eddie
You had a no boys allowed apartment. Then I walked you to my college dorm style hotel room that I had booked.
Natasha
Yeah. And which should have been no girls allowed.
Eddie
It should have been no girls allowed because the bed was right next to the toilet. We can't retell this story. We've told it multiple times. But I had to like poop next to the bed.
Natasha
Basically just like took the fattest shit. That's a little 30 seconds after it.
Eddie
Started at the flower shop.
Dylan Hales
Style toilet. Where were you living at the time?
Natasha
West Village.
Dylan Hales
Nice. Yeah.
Natasha
Yes. I had a no boys allowed policy at my apartment. So.
Dylan Hales
Yeah, that's good.
Natasha
He couldn't enter.
Dylan Hales
Yeah.
Natasha
And yeah, I had to, which is almost worse. I was like, oh my, I'll go back to your hotel room.
Eddie
It was really funny that night too. I liked her so much. I was like nervous. I was nervous, right. And then I got it up. It worked, right. Stuff with all the machinery worked that night. And she, she rolls over and turns me goes, honestly, if it didn't work this time I was going to be pissed at you.
Dylan Hales
That's it.
Eddie
So shout out to the flower shop.
Dylan Hales
It's a lot of pressure for a man as well, you know.
Eddie
I think there was a Magnum tonic wine in my drink over here that night.
Natasha
You know, they were helping you out.
Dylan Hales
It wasn't one of those weird pills you bought at the daily.
Eddie
Yeah.
Dylan Hales
Yeah. They called like, you know, Super Goat 8000 or whatever they're called.
Natasha
Yeah, I think those actually work, though.
Dylan Hales
I don't know. I think that'd make your head explode.
Eddie
You should put those pills out at the other restaurant. Big ways, big ways. Pills that little ways.
Natasha
Just a little, like insert a dollar.
Eddie
Yeah.
Natasha
I get a dick pill, dude.
Eddie
I think people make tons of money on those, like, hood dick pills.
Natasha
What I'm saying is, like, how are they still in production? Like they're all. There's always new ones. So like someone's using them. They're working is my thought there.
Dylan Hales
I think it's. Yeah. I don't know. It's probably just one of those supply and demand, baby.
Natasha
If there was no demand, there would be no supply.
Eddie
There's a lot of demand.
Dylan Hales
There's just a lot of drunk guys walking around at night. Like, this is like a good idea, people.
Eddie
Magnum tonic wine works. So I would drink Magnum tonic wine.
Natasha
Is that.
Eddie
It's like a Jamaican drink to like vitality, you know?
Natasha
That makes sense to me. Like, I feel like anything Jamaican that has to do with your dick is going to work.
Eddie
Yeah. But it didn't make my dick bigger or harder. It just made everything warmer.
Natasha
But blood flow. Right.
Eddie
The thing that it was there was more rhythm. Yeah.
Dylan Hales
But it's made you really hot in your eyes. Start popping in, out. Yeah.
Natasha
The spirit of Sean Paul was in your dick.
Eddie
The spirit of dance hall was warming up my dick.
Natasha
The temperature was rising.
Eddie
Yeah. But thank you for whatever you guys put in my drink. Cuz my dig actually worked.
Natasha
It did. And then he took a fat.
Dylan Hales
Oh, God.
Natasha
Right next to the bed. So that works. It was. It was a combo.
Eddie
Yes.
Dylan Hales
Well, yeah. That's so, so cool that. Wait, was it. Was it your first date?
Natasha
No, no. Wasn't our first.
Dylan Hales
First. You guys had the first. Yeah, got it. Got it.
Eddie
Right.
Dylan Hales
Yeah, yeah.
Natasha
Our first hang in New York.
Dylan Hales
I like that there's like. And it go. And a lot of people ask, like, what is. You know, a lot of people say, like, what's the best part about like being in this industry? Or whatever it is? And it's frankly, it's like stories like this.
Eddie
Yeah.
Dylan Hales
And I got loads of them as well from people that I've even never met that send us like, you know, letters and emails and asked to take their engagement photos at the flower shop because this is where they've had their first date. And you know, it's things like that that are like. That make it really special, you know, it's true.
Eddie
You're part of their history.
Natasha
Yeah, yeah.
Eddie
And it's like, you know, I feel it was interesting because we wanted to open this restaurant, and at first it was gonna be called, like, Shea Wong or something like that, A little less personal. But as I got to know you and as we started to shoot the show at the flower shop, I was just like, let's do the most personal version of this restaurant. And we named it after the singer of that song I play for my son every night.
Dylan Hales
Yes.
Eddie
I told you about it. And Natasha's olive oil is a big part of it. And it's just like everything's coming together in this family way that I think represents your brand and what you do, you know, at the flower shop. Little ways, all these things.
Dylan Hales
Yes, definitely.
Eddie
Yeah. I'm going to let you guys talk for two seconds because I got to go blow my nose. This is. This allergy is crazy, man.
Dylan Hales
Go for it.
Natasha
The New York allergies.
Dylan Hales
What should we talk about?
Natasha
So I. I took my jacket off because.
Dylan Hales
You want to go matching. Yeah, but it's warm in here too. I asked. I. I asked him to turn the AC on bit. Yeah.
Natasha
Wait, so when did you open the flower shop? Because I feel like just living in you. I don't even know. Flower shop has just always been in my head.
Dylan Hales
Yeah. Right. So, you know, so there's. So me and four other guys, there's. There's five of us that own and operate this company together.
Natasha
Okay.
Dylan Hales
We formed in 2015.
Natasha
Okay, that makes sense.
Dylan Hales
And it took a considerable amount of time to build this out and get all the various necessary, you know, approvals and change of usages and all these different things that, you know, down here was zoned to storage, and it was actually like a series of little rooms down here, which is very suspicious. So it's like a little. A little Chinese restaurant upstairs and then this secret basement, which is secluded. Yeah.
Eddie
Which is.
Dylan Hales
This is two stories underground as well.
Natasha
Curtains separating the room.
Dylan Hales
Yes.
Natasha
Yeah, I think I know.
Dylan Hales
I think we know what's going on down here. But this was on these owner stories. Even just to change. Even just to change a thing like this from storage so that it can legally be occupiable by humans. Is. Takes a lot, including, like, building a second staircase. It takes you back out on the street, you know, as a second means of egress, getting it up to ADA compliance. I actually got to show you guys this photo because yesterday I was looking through my. The photos on my phone, and I'm terrible. I don't I don't, like, keep or save anything. I don't chronicle. Like, I'm just like. It's all just in there. Half of my photos are just, like, accidental screenshots that I took of my homepage, you know, whatever. But I was going through. Not yet.
Natasha
Just loads of those photos of Eddie, actually.
Dylan Hales
But I was going through. I was going through my phone to look for some cute photos of my best friend Timmy. Shout out to Tim Sykes. He's actually a co founder of. I don't know what their actual hospitality group is called, but they own, like, Rubies, Dudleys and a bunch of other. A bunch of other really thoughtful concept. So it was his. It's his birthday. So I was combing through my phone to try to find a cute photo of him. I found this. I'll show you guys. I found this, which is an old. Which is just an old photo of. Where is it?
Natasha
You have to send it to us.
Eddie
Well, like, I love the little Ruby's opening. They had. They had Theophilus.
Dylan Hales
Yeah, that's right. You came to the open.
Eddie
That was Theo's, like, big comeback.
Dylan Hales
Yeah, exactly.
Eddie
It was another date. That was a triple date. Me, you, and Maxwell went on that one.
Dylan Hales
Theo's the man. Yeah. Well, check this out. That's. That's what the flower shop used to look like. The facade.
Eddie
Oh, wow. It was a Chinese restaurant with a lot of bamboo.
Dylan Hales
It was a Chinese restaurant. Yeah. So that was the. That was the facade of the flower shop way back when.
Eddie
Yeah.
Dylan Hales
Well, yeah, I'm gonna. I just texted it to you. Yeah.
Natasha
Yeah. So what was, I guess the inspiration? Because the. I think everything in here is so thoughtful, and I've really, like, meticulously torn it all apart because I've been in here so much recently. I'm like, every. Every photo, every. Just the placement of the plant, the cheetah, pool table, everything. So thoughtful. Like, where did all that inspo come from?
Dylan Hales
Well, you have to actually take it a step further than that, that you might even realize even. Even. Even, like, even the shape of this room, the way you're looking at it, this is not the natural shape of the room. Like, we pitched that ceiling and we put the beams in.
Natasha
I love it.
Dylan Hales
And, like, obviously that was clearly not there. You know, that's. That's. That's the exhaust for the. For the fireplace. Yeah, it was just a thought. I mean, it was just. There was a lot of inspiration from, like, Midwestern style, you know, pubs and bars, and then the same, like, inspiration from, like, English and Australian pubs. And it was just put together.
Eddie
Degenerate lifestyle living.
Dylan Hales
That too. Yeah. And that little ways was very much based on that kind of like, you know, New York lifestyle vibes, especially the upstairs lounge. But, yeah, I mean, I guess to answer your question is that. Yeah, there was a lot of thought and inspiration put into it. And then, you know, us collectively as a team, just gathered things and really considered where they would go. And, you know, some things. Some of these things we, you know, have had since 2017, which is when we opened. To go back to your original question. And some of the things have been, like, gifts from folks along the way and all sorts of stuff, you know. Yeah. So, yeah, there's definitely been a lot of thought into it. This. The pool table here. You can see the plaque here. This was, like, dedicated to Dylan Reeder, who was. It was like a professional skater who. Who was a larger than life character who died young of cancer. So we. And he was a. He was a big pool. It was a big pool guy. So we dedicated the pool table to him. And so, you know, there's lots of different little things, you know, upstairs, we've got. Upstairs in the front window, we've got a little area that we call the couple's wall. So it's like all of our parents.
Natasha
Princess Diana up there, the one that we have.
Dylan Hales
Princess, yeah.
Eddie
Yeah.
Natasha
Incredible. I really was, like, scanning because everything feel. I. You can feel when you're in a space where you're like, okay, somebody, like, came in and designed this. This just feels like you've had all of this stuff, like you and your team, you guys have had all of it. And I feel like I'm in, like, somebody's parents basement of, like, the coolest parents in the world.
Dylan Hales
That's exactly.
Eddie
Yeah.
Natasha
I'm like, oh, I'm in, like, that. So that 70s show, like, in the basement, like, with my friends, we would.
Dylan Hales
Always say, like, you, cool uncle's basement, you know, but it's the same. Exactly the same thing.
Eddie
Yeah. And it's absorbed all the memories and all the debauchery. And it's like, it's your uncle's basement and it's a yearbook.
Dylan Hales
Yeah, a lot of that. A lot of that's occurred. Yeah, a lot of that. Yeah, a lot. Yeah. These walls could talk, baby. You know, you don't know what they would say.
Eddie
I remember when we were telling. I think it might have even been like, Roddy or somebody upstairs a couple weeks ago. We're like, oh, we're gonna shoot at the Pool table. Like, oh, you remember that? That, like, you know, had sex with three chicks on the pool table. Like, whoa. This pool table is, like, really some work, man.
Dylan Hales
There's been. Yeah, yeah, it's. This pool table has seen a lot of action, for sure. Yeah, Yeah. I wouldn't. I wouldn't do that. Yeah, I'll get. That's what the allergies is from coming.
Eddie
From the pool table.
Natasha
The pool table. That's why we've been sick. We've just been sick for weeks, endlessly. Because they've been rolling around in this pool table.
Dylan Hales
That's it. Yeah, I've just built up immunity from it.
Natasha
Yeah, you probably. You probably have the best immune system in the world. Just like being in a bar a lot.
Dylan Hales
Well, I didn't get sick from that pair, by the way, so there you go.
Eddie
That was good. Yo, so we went to the Chinese market yesterday and he picked up a pair, which is fine. Usually you just pick it up. But then he put it on the conveyor belt at the Chinese grocery store, which people put raw meat on. There's like pork juice and beef juice and chicken feet. And he just wiped it on his shirt and ate it. And I was like, yo, his immune system is so sick, he's not even worried. He ate half of it. Turns to me, he goes, hey, you think that was enough with the. The shirt? The shirt shower? I gave the apple. I go, no. Like, absolutely not. I was like, I just think you're like, you'd never get sick. So I didn't say anything. He's like, man, wow.
Natasha
But that's probably why it's like exposure therapy.
Dylan Hales
That's it. Yeah, yeah.
Natasha
That's why, like, he always, like, wipes off the can before he drinks it. I'm like, just drink the can.
Dylan Hales
Yeah, that's it.
Natasha
Five second rule. Always. Like, I. I've seen our son drop shit on the street in New York and put it back in his mouth. And I have to just. Smooth brain. I'm like, don't think about it. He's fine.
Dylan Hales
Yeah.
Natasha
And I'm like, we're fine.
Eddie
I shower like seven times a day.
Dylan Hales
I swear to God, I've already showered three times today.
Natasha
Yeah, you worked out for like, seven hours.
Dylan Hales
First thing in the morning.
Eddie
First thing in the morning.
Natasha
First thing in the morning and before bed at night. You can't live in New York and not shower before you get in your bed at night. That's disgusting.
Dylan Hales
I don't. I don't get. Bless you. I don't understand I don't understand anybody who can get into bed after a day in New York City and not shower beforehand.
Natasha
It's insane. Like, I. I'm judging you. I don't like that at all. It's weird.
Dylan Hales
Yeah.
Natasha
It's like, it's outdoor and then outside clothes in the bed. Like, I've seen people like, get. They're outside in New York and then they like go on their bed in their clothes. And I'm like, that's disturbing.
Eddie
Subway jeans, bro. Subway clothing on the bed.
Natasha
Not correct etiquette.
Dylan Hales
It.
Eddie
No.
Natasha
Those people, I'm like, I don't know what's happening with them, if they're sick or not, but I'm like, somebody pissed on that bench. You sat on it and then you laid in your bed and rolled around showering.
Eddie
Sanitizing is not working for me. But I did go to the doctor because I, like, just didn't feel well for like six weeks. And he was like, you're literally allergic to every tree in New York. Like, every tree, every grass. I'm allergic. And he's like, when you left to la, got better. But now that you're back, he's like, your allergies are to going bananas. So.
Natasha
Yeah.
Eddie
Anyway, what dishes are you most excited about on this menu, Dylan? I'm curious.
Dylan Hales
I have to pull it up actually. Honestly, I can go first to reference it.
Natasha
Lion's head meatballs. Oh, it's my favorite thing you've ever made me. Every time you make it, I get like upset when we have people over and they try to take some home.
Eddie
Yes.
Natasha
I'm like, leave it. That's my dish. Thank you.
Eddie
Yeah. That is the one dish we will not do a doggy bag for. We're like, we will eat this for three.
Natasha
I've done it once, actually, for one person. It's cuz I love her. Alex. Daniel.
Eddie
Oh, yeah.
Natasha
And I was like, you can take it because I love her. But everyone else, I'm like, no. Sorry.
Eddie
Shout out, Alex.
Natasha
That's my leftovers.
Eddie
Yes. That dish is a lot of fun.
Natasha
It's so much fun.
Eddie
It's.
Natasha
It's a rare soup dish that I'm usually like very soup in the winter, only I don't crave soup in the summer. I will eat that dish anytime, anywhere, any plate. Like breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack. It's just. Just feels. It's very nostalgic. I'm in. I'm not Asian. I didn't grow up eating this. I don't know what it's triggering for Me. But it's triggering something. It's like, nostalgic and warm, and you feel comforted by it.
Dylan Hales
But.
Eddie
Well, you are sukiyaki. You love sukiyaki.
Natasha
I love sukiyaki.
Eddie
And I feel lion's head meatballs is a bit of, like, the Chinese answer to sukiyaki.
Natasha
Maybe that's why I love it so much.
Eddie
It's like sweet soy meaty, and then you just, like, eat tons of rice with it.
Natasha
Yeah. And that's what I love.
Eddie
Yeah.
Dylan Hales
All right, so I'll tell you now that I can't give you just one because, frankly, there's too many. But the. The dishes that I'm most excited about are the Taiwanese turkey rice, the Beijing lamb skewers, the Chinese chicken. Oh, and the lion's head meatballs. Yeah.
Eddie
This is also why your immunity is good. You have a good diet. Your palate is like a healthier palate. You know, I'm over here. Like, let me get the chopped chili skate wing. You know, like, my stomach is going to do backflips.
Dylan Hales
But I mean. Yeah, I think that. I think it's just always about balance as well, because I like. Yeah. I had. This morning, I had a protein shake, a banana, and a green juice. Right. Was my breakfast. But, like, tonight I'm gonna have, God knows, 120 beers. You know what I mean? So.
Eddie
Yeah. Where are you going tonight?
Dylan Hales
Where I am going, actually, is for. Man. What's. It's so. It's so embarrassing. What's that French restaurant uptown with the name that I can't pronounce that I was telling you about? It's. Did you guys. Did you guys go yet?
Natasha
No, we haven't got. He's probably gonna go with you before me. I mean, you guys will probably.
Dylan Hales
It is absolutely fantastic.
Natasha
Okay.
Eddie
It looks incredible.
Dylan Hales
It's incredible. The food's amazing. Just the whole. The whole experience from start to finish is fantastic, and the food is incredible. So again, my best mate, Timmy, it's his. We're celebrating his birthday tonight. And we've got the private dining room upstairs for 25.
Eddie
That's gonna be good.
Dylan Hales
25 of us. Yeah.
Eddie
That's one of the sharpest restaurants in the city.
Dylan Hales
It's really. It's really lovely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's what. That's what's at the end of tonight's black tire. So once. Once we're done this, I'm gonna. To go figure out. Figure out an outfit.
Eddie
I'm just gonna wear this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You should just Draw the tie on top.
Dylan Hales
Maybe draw on a bigger six pack as well.
Eddie
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've never seen you without a tank top.
Dylan Hales
It's pretty rare. It's pretty. It's always tank top. Tank top season around here. Yeah.
Eddie
Yeah. So for men with man boobs, I usually try to have a sleeve. You know, I got too much side boob for a tank top.
Natasha
You never have a shirt on.
Eddie
I never have a shirt on.
Natasha
You never have a shirt on ever.
Eddie
I'll show you the whole. The whole shebang, you know? Yeah, I got some great under boob.
Dylan Hales
You do?
Eddie
My under boob is. I think I have good under boob.
Natasha
No, I think you've, like. I mean, yeah, I give nice tits.
Dylan Hales
What's the tattoo situation like under there?
Eddie
Oh, I got.
Dylan Hales
I got you fully chatted up. Yeah.
Eddie
I only just didn't do the stomach. Stomach is.
Natasha
But I think you should.
Eddie
Yeah, I should. Then my stomach will look better.
Natasha
Yeah, your stomach looks great. But I feel like you should, like. I feel like you're a guy, you can have your stomach tattooed and it's like, hot. But, like, I don't know, because, like, you. You have playful energy. It would work for you.
Eddie
Yeah.
Natasha
Not every guy can have their stomach tattooed. Like, it's weird. On some people you can do it, so you should do it.
Eddie
I want to do a stomach tat. They just hurts the most.
Dylan Hales
Yeah, I'll show you right now.
Eddie
Help the YouTube out.
Dylan Hales
What's that? Help the YouTube out.
Natasha
Help you guys. I mean, I'm sure he's already seen it. One of your days.
Eddie
You should see the one on his food place. He's got a gray one. His just flower shop right there. The bush shot.
Dylan Hales
No, I was going to get. I was going to get one there that said rock and roll. And I was like, maybe that's a little. Maybe that's a little too aggressive.
Natasha
No, that's incredible. I'm like. I'm so encouraging of everyone's insane tattoos.
Dylan Hales
Yeah, that's it.
Eddie
I love it. Insane tattoo.
Dylan Hales
That's got to be like. Just. Just the other day, just where if I can wear a pair of board shorts and it can't be seen so mom. My mom and dad never see it. Then it's fine. Yeah, that's it.
Eddie
FA tattoo, bro. I mean, I got the butt tattoo. I was gonna get the nicks on my other butt cheek. And she was like, no, no, no.
Natasha
Next.
Eddie
Yeah, she was like, you're not allowed to do any more stuff on your butt.
Natasha
No, but the other Night. He was. You know how when you have like, you have like the nanit. You have the. The baby cam. He's putting away the. He's putting away the baby. No, you were putting the baby in the crib and he had no shirt on and he just like bent over and I screenshotted it. It was. It was the craziest picture because it's like, I don't know, like what it was called in like Zero Dark Thirty. It's like Midnight cam.
Eddie
Yeah. It's like Blair, Blair Witch Project. Child with attached.
Natasha
And then it's just like this massive dragon fighting a panther. And I was like, dude, we're weird parents. Like, just to see you putting our child.
Eddie
We're weird parents.
Dylan Hales
You guys are great. Yeah.
Eddie
Thank you. Yeah. In my head I'm like, yo, we're so loving. We're great parents. But then I look at it from our son's perspective and when he grows up, he's just gonn. Like my parents were talking about insane things on this podcast and then like looking like crazy people putting me in this crib. But I think it gives him character. I think, I think we're fun parents.
Natasha
I mean, his parents and his grandmother all have matching back dragon tattoos. So there's like a layer of like crazy. But it's also fun and cute.
Eddie
Do. Is your back all done?
Dylan Hales
No, but I was actually. I have been looking into getting mine. I do have tattoos on my back, but I was going to get. I probably still am, but not till the winter time of really big backpacks.
Eddie
Oh.
Dylan Hales
It's just going to be. It's just going to take a long time and it's going to require a lot of thought because it's like. I think it's like. I think it's like it's. I think it'd be 25 hours, you know.
Eddie
Oh yeah.
Dylan Hales
Even if someone. But even if someone that can bars quick, it'll still be about 25 hours.
Eddie
Yeah. The fastest would be like one session. 16 hours. But.
Dylan Hales
And even that most.
Eddie
It's hard.
Dylan Hales
There's not many people that are doing 16.
Eddie
You can't do a 16 hour sit. The most I did was six hours and I was. It was funny. I first two hours. Cool. Hour two to four dead just dying. Four to six. I was a zombie.
Dylan Hales
Well, that's it. Yeah, that's it. That's so. That's so true. Like after hour, the first couple hours, it's like this kind of even tickles. It feels nice a little bit. And then it's like, hang on. Now this really burns.
Eddie
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dylan Hales
And it's really uncomfortable. And then eventually, it's like, I don't. I'm just numb. Yeah.
Eddie
I wonder if that's how, like, a gang bang is, like, the first 20. All right, awesome. Great time. Love it. 20 to 40, I'm dying. And then 40 to 60, you're just, like. You've transcended to another realm. I don't know. No.
Natasha
Definitely gets good at the end.
Eddie
That is the end of the free preview of this week's episode. For the full paid version, Please consider becoming a paid subscriber on our substack Canal Street Dreams. Thank you.
Canal Street Dreams - Episode: The Dylan Hales Interview (June 6, 2025) - Summary
In this engaging and candid episode of Canal Street Dreams, hosts Eddie Huang and Natashia Perrotti sit down with their friend and flower shop owner, Dylan Hales. This conversation delves deep into their personal friendships, the journey of opening a new restaurant in New York City, and the intricate design inspirations behind Dylan's flower shop. Throughout the episode, the trio shares humorous anecdotes, insightful discussions on community building, and glimpses into their lives as parents navigating the bustling cityscape.
Natashia introduces Dylan Hales as not only the owner of their beloved flower shop but also their new landlord, highlighting the multifaceted relationships that thrive within their community.
Natashia Perrotti [01:10]: "You guys aren't paying rent though."
Eddie humorously adds to the introduction, emphasizing the camaraderie and light-hearted nature of their interactions.
Eddie reminisces about meeting Dylan outside the Knicks-Celtics game, recounting how a chance friendship blossomed into a collaborative venture.
Eddie Huang [03:28]: "You have been integral in my, like, return to New York."
Dylan shares memories of their initial outings, including a memorable walk in the rain and dinners at local spots like Little Ways and Mulberry Bar. Their shared experiences laid the foundation for their upcoming restaurant venture.
The conversation shifts to their ambitious goal of opening a restaurant in New York City. Dylan expresses excitement about the project slated to open on June 11th, emphasizing the importance of creating a space that fosters community and connections.
Dylan Hales [06:05]: "I think what I'm most excited about...is the mix of folks that are going to come through here...create a sense of community."
Eddie reflects on how natural and organic their partnership has been, underscoring the seamless integration of their personal and professional lives.
Dylan provides an in-depth look into the flower shop's design, revealing the thoughtful inspirations drawn from Midwestern, English, and Australian pub styles. He highlights specific features like the dedicated pool table plaque for Dylan Reeder and the couple's wall adorned with parents' memorabilia.
Dylan Hales [14:39]: "There was a lot of inspiration from, like, Midwestern style, you know, pubs and bars... English and Australian pubs."
Natashia marvels at the meticulous arrangement of the space, comparing it to "somebody's parents basement of the coolest parents in the world," showcasing the personalized and lived-in feel of the establishment.
The trio delves into light-hearted banter about allergies, personal hygiene habits in NYC, and parenting quirks. Eddie shares his struggles with severe allergies upon returning to New York, while Dylan humorously talks about his robust immune system developed from frequenting the flower shop.
Eddie Huang [19:36]: "Sanitizing is not working for me. But I did go to the doctor because I... every tree, every grass. I'm allergic."
Their conversation spans from humorous takes on public health practices to the challenges of maintaining personal well-being in the city's fast-paced environment.
Natashia and Eddie express their enthusiasm for the restaurant's diverse menu, highlighting signature dishes like Lion's Head Meatballs, Taiwanese Turkey Rice, Beijing Lamb Skewers, and Chinese Chicken.
Natashia Perrotti [20:04]: "Lion's head meatballs. Oh, it's my favorite thing you've ever made me."
Dylan elaborates on the balance of flavors and cultural inspirations behind each dish, ensuring a unique culinary experience for patrons.
In a lighthearted segment, Eddie and Dylan discuss tattoos, sharing their own experiences and aspirations for future ink. They joke about the pain and endurance required for long tattoo sessions, reflecting their playful camaraderie.
Dylan Hales [26:19]: "It's just going to take a long time and it's going to require a lot of thought because it's like...25 hours."
This segment adds a personal touch, showcasing their individual personalities beyond their professional endeavors.
As the free preview concludes, Eddie and Natashia encourage listeners to subscribe for the full episode on Substack, hinting at more engaging content and in-depth discussions in future episodes.
Eddie Huang [27:04]: "That is the end of the free preview of this week's episode. For the full paid version, Please consider becoming a paid subscriber on our Substack Canal Street Dreams. Thank you."
Key Takeaways:
Community Building: The importance of creating spaces that foster connections and a sense of belonging.
Collaborative Ventures: How organic friendships can lead to successful business partnerships.
Personal Narratives: Sharing personal stories and challenges enhances authenticity and relatability among hosts and guests.
Culinary Creativity: Emphasis on a diverse and thoughtfully curated menu to provide unique dining experiences.
Notable Quotes:
Eddie Huang [07:00]: "It's beautiful when shit comes together like that. It's just meant to be."
Dylan Hales [06:05]: "Creating a sense of community...that's what we've always wanted to do."
Natashia Perrotti [20:04]: "Lion's head meatballs. Oh, it's my favorite thing you've ever made me."
This episode offers a blend of humor, heartfelt stories, and insights into the entrepreneurial spirit driving Eddie, Natashia, and Dylan. It serves as an inspiring narrative for creatives striving to turn their dreams into reality, all while maintaining strong personal bonds and community ties.