Fresh Eats: The Barrymore Las Vegas

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My last night in Vegas for WWDMAGIC was capped with the most amazing dinner at a place I definitely wouldn't have found on my own. One of the best parts of traveling is finding places to eat and things to do that are off the beaten path. I don't normally take the tourist route (landmarks, famous restaurants, etc.) when I'm traveling, especially while I'm traveling for business. One of my new blogger friends, Emily, ended up meeting one of the owners of The Barrymore at WWDMAGIC - who then invited us to come and enjoy dinner there on our last night in town.

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

Image via Chanelle of  The Penelope Times

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

Image via Chanelle of  The Penelope Times

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

The Barrymore is the latest joint from award-winning chef, Anthony Meidenbauer, and Billy Richardson, owner of Block 16 and brainchild behind some of Las Vegas's most popular nightclubs and lounges. Adding a contemporary twist to retro Vegas, Barrymore servers up American Classic cuisine that's both approachable and unpretentious. We had an incredible meal that mixed things that are familiar to most (steak, mac & cheese) with fun, unexpected pairings (gnocchi, squid ink risotto.)

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

Some bread & veggies to start off. Softest, yummiest French bread I've had in awhile! Special shoutout to the pretzel bread which was also muy delicioso.

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

A few appetizers to whet the palette. Clockwise from top left: Roasted artichoke w/greens, salsa verde & parmesan; Octopus ála Greque (roasted w/cous cous, olives, capers & lemon-oregano vinaigrette); Semolina gnocchi (w/summer squash blossoms, fava beans, goat cheese ricotta & shaved summer truffles) & Lobster mac & cheese

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

The main courses: Pan Roasted ‘Jidori’ Free Range Chicken w/sweet corn grits, roasted chanterelles and natural jus; side of creamed corn & lobster; Diver Scallops (pan-seared w/squid ink risotto, tomato sugo & crispy fried artichokes) & filet mignon.

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

OMG dessert. Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée w/peach compote, apricot honey sorbet & candied pistachios; Warm Chocolate Cake w/praline fudge sauce, hazelnut brittle & milk chocolate sorbet; Amaretto Cheesecake Mousse w/biscotti crust, poached cherries & lemon olive oil sorbet and Strawberry Shortcake Coupe w/sweet biscuit, fresh strawberries, orange curd & chantilly

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

Image via Chanelle of  The Penelope Times

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

Image via Chanelle of  The Penelope Times

The Barrymore Las Vegas
The Barrymore Las Vegas

The cozy 1,400-square-foot restaurant only seats 50, and boasts a wine list featuring 50 selections under $50. Hella 50! It's not too far from the Las Vegas Convention Center, either: located at 99 Convention Center Drive, 89109 between Las Vegas Boulevard and the LVCC.

Check it out for yourself next time you're in Vegas! BarrymoreLV.com.

Read all my posts from WWDMAGIC here.

FJ @WWDMAGIC: Style Diary

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WWDMAGIC exists for the sole purpose of getting fashion into the hands of style mavens all around the world. It's only fair, then, to give you a recap of my outfits during my week in Vegas!

Fashion events are always fun, because the opportunity is ripe (and it's encouraged) to show off your personal style. I loved seeing all the MAGIC bloggers come together, because we all had very distinct tastes and ways in which we'd put an outfit together. Some trendy, others classic, vintage, girly or practical (we were logging in miles on those show floors after all.) I'd packed mostly basics in black, white, grey and denim that I knew would pair well with whatever gifted items were waiting for me. I'd inadvertently steered towards more of a tomboy look (was just thinking practical but stylish!) Somehow, it all came together.

L: Jack by B.B. Dakota leather vest (on sale!); lululemon 'Free to Be' bra ; Premonition Designs asymmetrical skirt, ShoeMint 'Gina' wedges

C: Vans hi-lo dress (similar); red creeper booties c/o TUK Shoes

R: White hi-lo tee (similar); Zara culotte skort; Zara city bag (new version); Vans boat shoes

I adore my affirmation bracelets c/o BCBGeneration! Thank you!

Lace bustier via Poshmark (similar); white Zara tank; Parker faux leather track pants (on sale!); Lace overlay sweatshirt c/o Dolly & Molly; Nike Dunk Hi wedges

(Photos via Kelsi Smith)

Center: BCBGeneration spring '14 leather cutout & tulle dress

R:BCBGeneration "I'm Serious" sweater

Army Brat tie-dye sweatshirt c/o Young, Wild & Serene; Arielle crossbody bag in dusty plum c/o Rabeanco; BCBGMaxAzria leather shorts; Dolce Vita boots via Poshmark; old necklace

And just so you know what my typical airport uniform looks like :)

Black Zara tank & American Eagle boyfriend jeans via Poshmark

Read all my posts from WWDMAGIC here.

FJ @WWDMAGIC: Fresh Finds

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WWDMAGIC is like one giant closet full of amazing gems, and us bloggers had a ball of a time trying on our fave finds and getting to know some of the designers and faces behind the showcasing brands. It was so hard to pare down my personal favorites, and some I didn't even get photos of! Nevertheless, here are some of the freshest finds (in my eyes) on this season's WWDMAGIC show floor:

1) Dakota Collective by B.B. Dakota: I'm already a big fan of Jack and the general B.B. Dakota collections, so when I got a look at the denim-inspired spring collection for Dakota Collective, I was enamored. This top though! I'm a big fan of basics, and Dakota Collective had a stellar lineup of leather jackets, denim, leggings and basic tees in shapes both classic and re-defined for the modern chick.

Dakota Collective_WWDMAGIC
Dakota Collective_WWDMAGIC

2) Trashy Diva: I mean, look at this setup right here. What's not to love about Trashy Diva? They live and breathe retro through their timeless dresses and separates. Everything I saw in the booth was so lady-like yet so sexy at the same time; I especially fell in love with the French Quarter print a-line full skirt. Mallory, a.k.a. Miss Malaprop and team were total sweethearts and all smiles throughout the show.

Trashy Diva_WWDMAGIC
Trashy Diva_WWDMAGIC

3) JOA - A clear favorite among the WWDMAGIC blogger team, JOA had all separates in every trend, fabric and style you could imagine. I saw a lot of matching textured pieces across the show floor, but this one incorporated the nude/neon dichotomy perfectly.

JOA_WWDMAGIC
JOA_WWDMAGIC

4) Flying Tomato gets props for its insanely beautiful booth alone. Well, that and its abundance of ethereal, summery maxi dresses.

5) Free People is absolutely owning that boho niche, and these upcoming seasons they've got some printed jumpsuits and fitted overalls to add to your (my) wardrobe.

Free People_WWDMAGIC
Free People_WWDMAGIC

6) LUSH Clothing: I'm already a big fan of Lush but I had to include this incredible nude leather skirt with the intricate pattern stitch detail. There's a lot of the asymmetrical leather skirt trend going on this fall; with black tights and a pair of over-the-knee boots, this skirt could be the star of the show. Here's a similar one in black & white laser cut print.

Lush Clothing_WWDMAGIC
Lush Clothing_WWDMAGIC

7) Darling: I will never tire of these feminine dress shapes, especially with this neckline and shoulder cut. I loved Darling's booth filled with these sweet dresses and separates, along with fun accessories and trinkets.

darling clothes_WWDMAGIC
darling clothes_WWDMAGIC

8) C. Luce: While I am not normally one for something so girly, I couldn't walk past this brocade/feather number without doing a double take. The feather skirt with black fringe is just so perfect agains the leaf brocade print, and again I love that neckline.

c. luce_WWDMAGIC
c. luce_WWDMAGIC

9) BCBGeneration: If the 90s are making a comeback this upcoming season, then BCBGeneration is leading the charge. The BCBGeneration booth was dripping with plaid and other grungy 90s-ness alongside new classic pieces like the leather cut-out dress with pink tulle bottom (like the one I'm modeling in the second pic!) They also had the SkyBox decked out like a 90s teenage girl's bedroom, complete with a daybed, inflatable furniture, Date Line phone, Clueless quotes adorning the walls and in the VHS. The bloggers and other booth guests could hang up in the SkyBox and enjoy nail wrap treatments, blowouts, help ourselves to the candy bar and get affirmation bracelets made. So rad!

bcbgeneration_wwdmagic
bcbgeneration_wwdmagic

10) The indies: Bri Seeley & Courtney Allegra:

There's something special about watching an independent designer realize their dreams. It was such a treat to spend some time with Seattle native Bri Seeley and meet Courtney Allegra, while perusing some of their latest collections. Two ladies with totally different styles but equally bad ass. Watch out for them!

bri seeley_Magic market week
bri seeley_Magic market week
courtney allegra_pool tradeshow
courtney allegra_pool tradeshow

FJ @WWDMAGIC: The Haul

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Everybody loves a sweet swag bag, right? Well, no fashion blogger project would be right without goodies to keep us looking, smelling and feeling fresh. WWDMAGIC was no exception, and boy did they treat us right!

Fresh Jess_WWDMAGIC_The Haul
Fresh Jess_WWDMAGIC_The Haul

I was so excited to see what was in my pile of gifted goodies from a few very kind WWDMAGIC vendors. It truly was like Christmas morning in the blogger team war room over at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Quiet concentration on opening and unwrapping led to some fabulous surprises. I tried my best to get a photo of everything in one shot!

WWDMAGIC_Fresh Jess_The Haul
WWDMAGIC_Fresh Jess_The Haul

The TwoPointOh team also stocked us with some amazing beauty products. Those L.A. Fresh makeup remover and cleanser wipes came in so clutch after a long day or night out of show floor and parties. I've been wearing the Jouer matte base, 'YES to Carrots' lip balm, Too Faced 'Better Than Sex' mascara & Flower Beauty 'Chocolate Lily' lipstick almost every day since MAGIC Market Week ended!

WWDMAGIC_Fresh Jess_The Haul
WWDMAGIC_Fresh Jess_The Haul

Special thanks to all the kind vendors for their lovely goodies!

Stay tuned for more of my FJ @ WWDMAGIC coverage! Outfit diary, new discoveries, favorite picks, oh my!

August Fresh: A Recap

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It's been a ridiculous August and I have a severe lack of blog posts to show for it. I'm sorry my dear readers! As I'm sitting here watching Justin Timberlake and *NSYNC light up the MTV Video Music Awards, I thought it'd be fun to share some photos of what I've been up to this month. Tomorrow I'll back with the first of some seriously amazing interviews, outfit shots and recaps of my time as a WWDMAGIC Official Blogger :)

Most of my time has been devoted to LUNA & CLIF Kid Bar. It's our busiest couple of months in the year, but winding down now. I've been having such a blast at all of our events but I'm excited to have a little quiet time to blog in the coming weeks.

I'm stoked to be on the team bringing Slideluck to life this year in Seattle! Part potluck, part art extravaganza. Coming in November to Pioneer Square! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates leading up to the event.

Still getting my workouts & superfood diet on. Been traveling a lot so it hasn't been as consistent, but I refuse to give up on it completely. Never that.

Thoroughly enjoying summer but looking forward to fall, because that means SEAHAWKS FOOTBALL! Caught the last day of training camp a couple of weeks ago. Thanks Bing for having me!

My family is everything to me, and now we will have one more to add to the mix (officially!) Congrats to my cousin Erick and his beautiful longtime girlfriend Ashley on their engagement. 

Super honored to be included in "The Voices of Fashion" piece in 425 Magazine this month! Read the article here.

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram then you know my last week was spent in Vegas covering WWDMAGIC. Such a life-changing experience. I'm still trying to comprehend all the wonderful things that happened there, and you'll see a few posts going up in the next few weeks detailing them!

Fresh Jess is Going to MAGIC!!!

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You guys, we did it! 

Yesterday I got the notice that I'll be joining bloggers from around the world as an official correspondent for the MAGIC Market Week trade shows. MAGIC is the largest fashion convention/tradeshow in the world. In a nutshell, every site or store you shop at sends their buyers to the MAGIC shows to meet with designers and hand-pick what will show up on the shelves that you'll shop from in upcoming seasons. Thank you to everyone who sent a tweet out last week supporting my campaign to get to MAGIC, and to all those who read and support Fresh Jess on the regular. 

Nailing this campaign means so much more to me than just my next fun brand partnership. When I started my blog, the only goal I had was to hopefully have people (I didn't know) reading and learning from what I had to share. FJ is a lot of hard work, and for the bulk of these last five years, was more a labor of love than a means to provide for myself. That balance between hobby and profession has been leaning more and more towards 'profession' lately, and I spend a lot of time obsessing on how I can be a better blogger. Not just improving my traffic, but constantly asking myself questions like:

  • How are people responding to me? 
  • What are people sharing from Fresh Jess? 
  • How can I differentiate myself? 
  • How can I partner with brands? 
  • How can I make money but in way(s) that feel natural to me? 
  • How can I be a better writer, yet convey the most authentic and honest version of me as possible? 

I knew more than anything that I wanted Fresh Jess to help put Seattle on the radar. As a lifestyle blogger with a strong focus on fashion and style, it can be real hard to get the attention of brands from a market that isn't a hotbed for them. Seattle is great and home to the biggest retailer in the world (what up Amazon), but we still have yet to get a Zara. We will never be New York or L.A., and for that, fashion types don't often have a reason to partner with bloggers from up here. I've worked hard to change the outside perception of Seattle as a viable market, and as an overall amazing place to be.

Image via  Pinterest

That's why I was pretty much in tears when I got the email yesterday about being a MAGIC blogger. After seeing some of my favorite fashion bloggers cover the shows, speak on panels and interview designers in seasons past, I wondered how I could be part of the action. I wanted to represent Seattle in the midst of one of the biggest fashion gatherings of the year. Less than a year later, here I am with that very opportunity at my hands. These are tears of pride and accomplishment. Hard work absolutely pays off. Now more than ever, I am proud of the work that I've done here on Fresh Jess and know there is so much more in store for me and this site.

Stay tuned for more info on what I'll be up to at MAGIC, and what to follow while we're there. I'm so excited and can't wait to be a part of it.