Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Dine In Brooklyn: DUMBO


So I finally made it to DUMBO, and I love it there! As seen in the photo, the area allows amazing and unique views of the Brooklyn Bridge. DUMBO, which is actually an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in Brooklyn that I think is a hidden treasure.

Thanks to Dine In Brooklyn 2011, a few friends and I had the opportunity to enjoy a 3 course dinner at Water Street Restaurant for only $25. It feels like an old tavern, but the menu offers mouth watering southern cuisine, which I didn't expect but I must say was a pleasant surprise.

Going with the theme of embracing the Brooklyn experience, I stepped out of my comfort zone and went for Six Points Sweet Action, a local beer. I won't say that I loved it. Beer is certainly an acquired taste that I'm working on getting my palette accustomed to.

I love that Water Street Restaurant offered their normal menu, unlike other restaurants that offer special menus of items that are not available beyond the restaurant week, which I always thought was weird. If I fall in love with a dish I can't go back and get it again because it's not on the regular menu. But I digress. I started with the Crawfish Poppers, which I absolutely loved. For the entree, I couldn't resist the Catfish in a Quilt (of bacon!) lying comfortably over a bed of black-eyed peas, cabbage and corn. Although I don't usually like sweet/savory combinations, I really loved the spicy pineapple glaze it was topped with. For dessert, I went with the dark chocolate and peanut butter brownie, which honestly wasn't my favorite. The texture of the brownie reminded me of a flourless cake or a vegan dessert. I liked the peanut butter but could live without trying it again.

Even though I'm not a big fan of pie, I would like to try the key lime pie because it seemed to be a popular item among the guests around us. Also on my To Try List are the crab cakes and DUMBO gumbo. I'd also like to try Big B's Deep Fried Deviled Eggs, which Big B himself (also known as General Manager Brian) proudly recommended as his personal contribution to the menu. Brian and the rest of the staff were very attentive, and the entire restaurant had a very comfortable and familiar vibe.

I would highly recommend Water Street Restaurant , and would even go as far as to offer to accompany anyone interested in checking it out (not just to satisfy my own yearnings). There is still time to take advantage of Dine In Brooklyn, whether it's at Water Street Restaurant or one of the other participating Brooklyn restaurants (until March 31).

I'd definitely love to become more familiar with the DUMBO area. The famous Ignazio's Pizza, River Cafe, and Dewey's Candy shop are my first stops.

My Journey to #IslandIntern

Whether we are going to call it calling, purpose, mission, zone of genius, this is it, and this is what my journey is all about. My mom told me about this island intern contest. Isla Palenque is seeking an adventurous and social media loving person to be their island intern. I've entered the contest because this opportunity has my name written all over it. While reading the details, I thought "This is what I want to do with my life!"

I am so happy that I pushed myself to enter the contest and compose the video because than in itself has been a learning experience. I imagine that this is only the beginning.

Check out my video:



And vote for me to be the Isla Palenque island intern!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Monday Motivation

I do not think that I am the only who sometimes struggles with the fear of being as amazing as I can be. I wanted to share this little nugget of motivation from The Fab Life Project:

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Get Cute Quick: My Fave Things


Thanks to On The Lookout NYC, I was invited to the launch of Pink Nouveau Mondays at Haven Lounge. Although I am not a beauty professional, I was inspired by all the glam to step by own beauty game up a notch. I absolutely loved my makeup makeover (thanks to Nachalia). My eyes (pictured above) looked bolder and sexier than when I do it myself. My goal now is to recreate it.

It's been a little while since I've done a Get Cute Quick post. So I've decided to do one dedicated to my favorite cosmetics of the moment:

Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit- Because my eyebrows are not as full as I would like, I've learned to accentuate them with a brow brush. Using a brown powder allows it to look natural and not as harsh as a black pencil would.

Motives Luxe Precision Eye Line- What I love about it is not just its precision and boldness, but it dries so quickly that I don't have to worry about smudging it when applying my eyeshadow. I have recently realized how much I really like how my eyes look when the lower lid is lined. I haven't quite perfected it or found the right pencil, but it will soon be part of the Get Cute Quick process, especially for special occasions.

Motives Pressed Eye Shadows- I do not wear any of these consistently yet, but I have loved every one that I've tried. They have such bold, rich colors. The shimmers are my favorites.

Avon's SuperSHOCK Mascara- As one who was not born with bountiful lashes, I can truly appreciate any mascara that makes them look that way. I swear that my eyelashes transform a little every time I apply this. What I love most about is the applicator is made of a hard plastic (I believe) with evenly spaced bristles that force lashes to stand at attention in a neat formation. So there are no deformed bristles that cause clumping.

Sephora Collection Fresh Gloss- I fell in love with this lip gloss ever since trying the sample set I got as my free Sephora birthday gift. It gives gloss without being too thick or sticky.

Equipped with these, I can get cute quick for any occasion.

  • What are your favorite products?
  • I'm actually on the search for a lightweight foundation, preferably powder, for a finished look. Any recommendations?

Miss Journey and On The Lookout NYC UNITE!

Guess who is now a contributor to On The Lookout NYC. Yup, its me, known on the site as Miss Journey D. Stay tuned for posts similar to what you find here: all about the most fun things to do here in NYC!

Check out my first two pieces:
Show ya girl some love with some comments. 'Preciate ya! :-D

Sunday, March 13, 2011

NYC Staycation: Empire Hotel

Spending a night in a hotel is always fun, even if it's in your own city. Empire Hotel, a hop, skip and jump away from Lincoln Center, was our home for the night of our friend's birthday. Our cute double Queen bed suite was complete with a desk and a lounge area that made the room comfortably spacious.




















Upon entering the hotel, one might feel as if they've escaped the concrete jungle and have stepped into the wild jungle of Africa. From the animal printed furniture to the forest tree-scaped walls, the hotel is completely dressed in a sexy safari theme. (Note: What's funny is that with my sexy cheetah print dress, I fit right in.)


I'm such a sucker for details like the cute little baggy that the toilet paper came in.

Empire Hotel is also known for its rooftop lounge, which is not restricted to guests. Whether it be for happy hour lounging or nighttime dancing, Empire's rooftop lounge is certainly a hot spot in NYC.

I enjoyed my brief time at Empire and would certainly recommend it to anyone, whether you're visiting or want a brief staycation.