A day at Essex

this is going to be an interesting journey....i'm almost a week late from posting only the SECOND entry on the SECOND brunch, so that should say volumes.  That being said, I have realized that I have swerved away from my initial set-in-stone description of what this blog would be about.  Remember, I wanted it to be unlimited drinks,  discovering a golden rainbow of brunches hidden behind non-descriptive buildings as one wandered down unbeaten paths,  and humming along to an easily identifiable theme song for the day.  Instead, I was forced to plan on leaving for a my yearly business trip to Orlando on Sunday, celebrating A 40th birthday  with LA friends on Saturday night,  and deciding on whether or not to have the brunch on Saturday alone, or Sunday on the plane, again alone.

There were hours spent on where to eat, and finally, I decided on the Essex Restaurant on the LES.  This was recommended by Jessica, and I had great memories of brunches past, so it won the competition.  The Essex was chosen because of these main points:  I have had unlimited bloody marys there before, so it fit the blueprint of bottomless drinks.  It's in the LES, so technically off the beaten path of Upper East Side princesses and tourists, and it's close enough to everything worth being around.

The Essex was chosen, and Christine was along for the ride. After getting my hair done at Suite 303 in Chelsea, it was off to brunch, us two gals. to get our brunch on.  And this is where flexibility was to play a part in the development of this blog.  I totally expected all brunches to be filled with fairy dust and twinkle toes, a mind-blowing experience of monumental proportions.    I instead, came to realise that choices will NOT always be the best, and my criteria may not ALWAYS be met.

So, I will end with this.  Essex was not the plan I had in mind.  The wait was over TWO hours for a table for you, on a drippy cold Saturday.  The peeps were not who I wanted to hang out with for said TWO hours.  The vibe was decidedly UES/UWS/Weehawken and others.  The style of the day was bursting with young men in  button-down shirts, and khaki pants, and young non-descript ladies in their fake fur and staggered bangs.  Finally, it was pricey as in 30$ for eggs, cheese and cheap vodka.

This picture completely expresses my thought about the afternoon.  Her face speaks exactly to what I was thinking.  WTF am I doing here???  And, will I be able to drink all these marys?? 

not drunk enough

I realize to my great delight, that I don't need to go the Essex again, for brunch, or a sandwich or a drive-by.  I'm good.

Brunch 2:

PLACE: Essex Restaurant - http://www.essexnyc.com/
EATS: Mexican Matzo Brei – scrambled eggs with tortilla crisps, monterey jack, avocado, black beans & pico de gallo
TRACK : WTF?
OUTSTANDING QUOTE: "you are the shoes with the boots."


Next brunch will change your life...I promise!


Brunch #3 MexiQ Astoria.
Sunday Feb 6.

Let's do this!