DUMBO: Neighborhood Guide, Part 2

DUMBO is full of great eats in addition to the wealth of coffee shops (seriously, so many) and unique spots to shop that I profiled last week. Here are our favorites, in no particular order: 

SIT DOWN: 

Almar ~ Every Brooklyn neighborhood needs at least one cash-only Italian spot serving up great pasta and uncomplicated food, and for DUMBO, Almar is that place. It's relatively easy to get a table (no reservations) and always an enjoyable meal. Good for breakfast through dinner, with Italian wines and cocktails. If you go for breakfast or brunch, don't miss the eggs in a cloud!

Gran Electrica - Have I mentioned how much we adore Gran Electrica? Oh yes, I have. Great for brunch or dinner, with my favorite outdoor patio in the neighborhood. If you go, everything savory is delicious and I can never say no to their chocolate pudding for dessert. And I've tried. If you go and you're pregnant (hiiiiii!) the bartenders will kindly make you a virgin margarita good enough that you don't feel like you're missing out at all. And if you're in the San Francisco Bay area - lucky you! Gran Electrica just opened its second location in Napa. 

Celestine ~ Our favorite newcomer restaurant. Excellent Mediterranean foods and great views under the Manhattan Bridge. An awesome date spot or good for a small group. 

Superfine ~ I feel like Superfine is one of those restaurants that if you're not plugged into the neighborhood can get overlooked. Really excellent, locally sourced food and a very laid back atmosphere that often offers live music. This is where Doug and I celebrated with both sets of our parents and some of our siblings while we were engaged, with a memorable New Orleans-style jazz band performing Christmas carols. 

Atrium ~ An established and beloved neighborhood spot that we went to probably every month, and definitely whenever we had visitors in town. For cocktails, check out the Tea and Kalamansi and don't miss the excellent French wines. For dinner, definitely get the bread and take a look at the chicken for two, but really everything is good. And don't miss the opportunity to sit outside for brunch. 

Love & Dough ~ This is my favorite pizza spot in DUMBO. Get a little crazy and try their Surrpressata pizza (red sauce) and the Brontese (white sauce), the latter of which taught me that I'm a grown up who can appreciate mortadella. The paparedelle with pesto is one of our go-to pastas, but really you can't go wrong. You can eat in, order take out, or (my personal favorite) head just across the road / tiny plaza to the Archway Lighthouse. Under the Archway, the Lighthouse is open seasonally serving beer, wine and snacks and you can eat at plentiful picnic tables. We'd do this on summer Friday nights and take Foster with us. It was bliss. 

Ramen Bar ~ Newly opened last year and such a welcome addition to the area. It's dimly lit, so comfy and cozy, and the ramen is fantastic. Win, win, win. Definitely worth checking out. 

GRAB AND GO: 

Untamed Sandwiches ~ I'm hungry just thinking about it. Untamed specializes in delicious braised meat sandwiches served on ciabatta bread (my favorite) 

Vinegar Hill House Foods ~ VHH Foods nearly made last week's list for coffee spots (thumbs up for their cold brew) but we really like it as a spot to grab breakfast or lunch. The breakfast tacos are a fan favorite, and they have great quality food. My go-to lunch all winter from VHH Foods was their smoked chicken salad sandwich and saffron tomato soup. It could perk up even the grayest days. VHH Foods has lovely, sunlit indoor seating that looks out at the Empire Stores courtyard and to the water beyond. The real winner, however, is the outdoor patio (again, seasonal of course) that is lively and dog friendly. 

Smile To Go ~ Tucked into the Shinola store, this takeaway counter has sandwiches, soups, and salads at the ready, plus space to eat them onsite if you're not planning a picnic. They also make delicious breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos to order, but expect to wait a few minutes while they make it up. I like that you buy sandwiches by the half, allowing you to customize your meal.

Lunchtime Under the Archway ~ For many years running, various vendors seasonally pop up under the Manhattan Bridge Archway from Wednesday through Friday to serve lunch. It usually runs May to October, and I'm waiting anxiously for the announcement that it's starting back up for the year. There are a few standbys and a rotating cast for variety. My absolute favorite is Rice & Miso Everyday for their onigiri (Japanese rice balls with tasty fillings) bento. 

IF YOU WANT TO VISIT DUMBO...

A few insider tips: 

• If you go on a nice afternoon in the summer, expect crowds. Possibly big ones.
• Ditto if you want to take the ferry on a nice day: expect long lines. 
• To avoid those crowds, try to plan a morning exploring Dumbo. You can't go wrong grabbing a coffee and pastry and walking along Brooklyn Bridge Park before the hordes descend and there are numerous spots open for a proper breakfast. It's lovely and peaceful and my favorite time of day. 
• The neighborhood is family and dog friendly...
• There's a playground for kids where Washington Street (the one with the iconic bridge view)  dead ends into Plymouth Street and the park. 
• There's a small dog park under the Manhattan Bridge along Plymouth Street, although it's been closed recently due to track work on the bridge. 
• If you're dealing with inclement weather, take refuge in Empire Stores - you'll have multiple eateries to choose from and a big common space with couches and tables to hang out comfortably. This is where you'll find neighborhood families on weekend mornings, and bonus it's dog friendly too.
• Don't wait in terribly long lines for Grimaldi's pizza, please - I'm begging you. Juliana's is great, but we would call for takeout. Desperate for pizza? See my glowing rec for Love & Dough above. They have more typical pizza combos if you're not up for the crazy ones. 

If you didn't catch Part 1 of my DUMBO guide, you can check it out here. 

DUMBO: Neighborhood Guide, Part 1

As I mentioned last week, we're saying goodbye to Dumbo, the waterfront Brooklyn neighborhood that has been our home for nearly three years. With that in mind, it seems like a particularly poignant time to share all of our favorite spots in our now-former neighborhood. I've put together some of our favorites across a range of categories. 

COFFEE

Brooklyn Roasting Company ~ With three locations around the relatively compact neighborhood, BRC, as its affectionately known, is the OG DUMBO coffee choice. They are located on Washington Street, just up the way from the iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge arch in the photo below, plus inside West Elm looking out onto the water. I wrote up the original location on Jay Street here, and my love for BRC's maple shay latte has not dimmed. 

Bluestone Lane ~ What is about Australian coffee shops that they are all SO GOOD. This spot has become my favorite place to meet up with a friend over coffee and breakfast or lunch. There's a range of beloved Aussie coffee drinks (did you know that putting a scoop of ice cream into iced coffee and thus making an iced latte is a thing? Pure genius) plus a sunny, cheerful interior. I bet you can't visit without Instagramming the flamingo wallpaper. 

Feed ~ Tucked right into Empire Stores along Water Street, the Feed store has a darling selection of carefully chosen goods plus a delightful coffee counter. My favorite drink at Feed is actually their hot chocolate, which I get with almond milk because it tastes pleasantly like a chocolate-covered almond. You can take your coffees to wander around the neighborhood or settle into one of the cozy couches in the indoor common area at Empire Stores. 

SHOPPING

Front Street General Store ~ It's really hard to sum up Front Street General store and do it justice. There is a well curated selection of Japanese ceramics, vintage Levis, and small gifts and unique finds. It's all cohesive in a way that is tough to convey here. It really is one of those spots that is best appreciated in person. If you don't believe me, GQ named it one of the 25 best news stores in the world last year. 

Natchie Art ~ I love, love, love Natchie's whimsical prints, especially her New York City series. I've given them as gifts to rave reviews, and we plan to put a few up in our new home (stayed tuned for that reveal). You can find Natchie inside Empire Stores from Thursdays through Sundays. 

Shibui Japanese Antiques ~ This spot is subterranean on the busy corner of Water and Washington (where everyone takes photos like the one seen below) but I think it often gets overlooked. If you've ever traveled to Japan, it's like stepping back into that trip. And if you haven't travelled to Japan, I think this shop just may inspire you to put the trip on your travel bucket list ASAP. 

La Catrina Flower Studio ~ This colorful shop, tucked under the Manhattan Bridge on Plymouth street, was opened last year by a longtime neighborhood resident. The staff are unfailingly friendly and approachable, and will work with you to come up with whatever arrangement you're hoping for, however large or small. 

Jacques Torres ~ This shop gets mobbed with families visiting NYC, but its a longstanding fixture in DUMBO (this is the original retail location of the Jacques Torres chocolate empire) and worth a visit. Don't miss the chocolate chip cookies or the chocolate covered graham crackers. The truffles are delightful too. Really, everything is delicious when covered in chocolate. 

This list highlighted just a few of our favorites. Next week, I'll cover where to eat and drink plus tips for making the most of your visit to the neighborhood. 

p.s. How's that for an iconic view? Pro tip for getting those photo ops at DUMBO landmarks and along the waterfront is to go as early as you possibly can stand it. It gets very crowded as the day goes on! 

photos by Red Gallery Photography

We're Moving! (But Not Very Far Away)

We're moving this week! It's exciting and it's stressful. We'll be staying in Brooklyn but saying goodbye to DUMBO, our neighborhood for the past three years. During that time, we've seen massive amounts of change as DUMBO has increasingly become a popular destination for both tourists and New Yorkers. The growth and change that we experienced pales in comparison to what longtime neighborhood residents have witnessed over the past decade, but it has been substantial nonetheless and it shows no sign of abating.  

Dumbo was the perfect first step into Brooklyn for us, and we'll miss walking Foster along the river and taking in the stunning views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, to say nothing of the sunsets and the Statue of Liberty. I'll look back with fond memories of the night we watched an epic thunderstorm roll over Manhattan, something rare for NYC that pulled at my Midwestern heartstrings. It was such an incredible show that we turned off the t.v. and turned sideways on the couch to better see the storm out the windows. 

Now, as we prepare to welcome Baby Brown in June, we find ourselves needing more space than our current compact layout provides. Specifically, we need a dedicated work space for both of us since I work from home one day a week and Doug needs the flexibility to get work done after office hours. In our current / soon-to-be-former apartment, if our desk isn't in the second bedroom, there's literally no where else to put it. It won't fit in the living room or in our bedroom (not that we would want it in either spot), and having a desk in the nursery doesn't seem ideal either (to put it mildly).

Additionally, one of the tradeoffs that we made for our location and breathtaking views (they were so worth it!) is that we don't have a dining table. We have a big kitchen island where we usually eat, plus access to a beautiful communal roof deck, which is great when the weather permits. With the baby on the way, we're ready to feel a bit more settled and be able to sit down together at a table. And honestly, as my bump grows bigger, I'll be glad to have an option other than sitting on a counter stool! 

Park Slope, here we come! 

p.s. DUMBO is so unique and I highly recommend checking it out, whether you're visiting New York or live in other parts of the city. I'll be sharing our favorite neighborhood spots over the next two weeks. 

photos by Red Gallery Photography

Tackling Dry Skin

When I turned 30, I suddenly started dealing with dry skin. My birthday is in the summer, right before crazy humidity tends to kick in, but it seriously felt like the very week of my 30th birthday my skin became noticeably drier. I also sprouted three gray hairs (one for each decade) and hoppy beers stopped agreeing with my stomach that week, but I digress. 

This year, my pregnancy coincided with the onset of fall and winter which has left me with a perfect storm of dry skin (thanks, hormones). To combat it, I've doubled down on moisturizing. I mist a generous amount of moisturizing toner then apply a protective serum and a face oil. This mist from Marie Veronique, although I also really love this one, which has hyaluronic acid in it (although honestly I wish the mister was more of a true mist and less of a spray for application). 

I subscribe to the theory that if you're going to splurge on skincare you should put money into your serum.  Marie Veronique's Barrier Restore Serum is definitely speedy, but it has been key to sorting out my parched skin. It's also been so popular that it's sold out at numerous retailers that carry the Marie Veronique line. To balance out the cost of the serum, I've found less pricey face oil from Trilogy, which I pick up at Whole Foods. I also use only 1-2 pumps of the serum and 3 drops of the oil each time I apply. A little bit does go a long way with these! 

I also swear by Jao's Face Cream, which is seriously moisturizing, has a great feel and smells delightful - and is $60 for a big tube. I use it as night cream all year, plus during the day to combat any winter-induced dry patches. It's not pictured above only because I recently ran out of it! So that's it, my whole recipe for sorting out my super dry skin.  

Why We Took a Babymoon

Doug and I spent last weekend in sunny South Florida for a relaxing getaway. I've always appreciated escaping somewhere warm and filled with sunshine to restock vitamin D (which I sorely miss during the bleak months). Prior to becoming pregnant, I'd observed friends take babymoons, but I hadn't given much thought to this cultural phenomenon until my own pregnancy. Was it something we wanted or needed to do? I wasn't initially convinced that it was necessary but I was certainly open to the idea. 

Doug and I both work demanding jobs and our free time is precious. New York City, for all the wonderful perks of living here, can quickly become  a grind. It wears on you to varying degrees, depending on the month, the status of the subway (getting worse, by the way), the neighborhoods where you live and work, and what else is happening in the city on a particular day. 

Against this background, we know that with the arrival of a baby that change is coming. We know, academically, that our lives will change, that we will have less free time, that our schedules will be less flexible, that we will go out to dinner far less often. I've heard that becoming parents will change each of us, that our perspectives and our focus (both jointly and separately) will shift, that how Doug and I related to each other as partners will change. But I have no idea what that is going to look or feel like. It's not something I'm anxious about but it is a great unknown. The future is going to be different, but I won't know how until we get there. 

All of which increased the importance of taking babymoon as one way to focus now on our marriage. We have a lot going on in the coming months, much of which is wonderful and exciting but which also requires planning, and decision making, and a decent amount of stress. This past weekend was a welcome reprieve to step out of our to-do lists and to unwind, to be able to just enjoy time spent together on what will be our last getaway just the two of us before the baby arrives. The ability to travel, both to make the time and to spend the money, is certainly a luxury and I'm so grateful we were able to do it. 

When we travel, we typically love to explore, to see and do lots of new things but for this particular trip we took a more low key approach. We were limited as to when we could travel (in part due to pregnancy-related travel restrictions) and we didn't want a very long flight from NYC (otherwise I would have been dreaming about something on the West Coast or even a return to Hawaii). We definitely wanted to go somewhere sunny and reliably warm (in March, which narrows ones options), preferably near the ocean. In the spirit of wanting to relax, and not to worry, we were also keen to find somewhere that was low risk for Zika, which ruled out most of the Caribbean (otherwise a logical destination for this time of year). 

So we picked South Florida and mostly hung out at our hotel, luxuriating in the sunshine and in beautiful sunsets over the water. We really didn't do all that much. We ventured into nearby Naples for dinner twice, but that was it. I sipped virgin pina coladas on the beach, we ate local seafood, and we spent three nights just hanging out with each other. It was just what we were hoping for.  

The peaceful stillness of sunrise over the Gulf. 

p.s. you can find my packing inspiration post here, and check out a few more scenes from our trip on Instagram.