Brickell Fall Bar Crawl

Hallelujah!  It’s the weekend!  While my Jews may be making the necessary temple stop tomorrow, all my Jesus-loving peeps better check out the Brickell Fall Bar Crawl.  The Summer crawl garnered huge participation numbers, so now Miami Crawls and the University of Miami Department of Neurology partner up to benefit the Residency Research and Education Fund.  Party starts at Brickell Irish Pub at 3 pm and goes all the way to 10 pm finishing up at Transit.  $25 gets ya six free drinks and other boozy discounts to quench your thirst.  Don’t die.

Plan-It! Sushi

Question: What is the one thing Brickell has (/will have w/the addition of Lucky Clover) more of than Irish pubs?

Answer: sushi restaurants. bam.

…

Our petite hood has no less than six sushi spots, but alas no complaints here.  Shit, at BrickGals, we’ll eat some spicy tuna til we become the chicken of the sea.

While our love goes out to Obba like whoa for their lunch specials and spicy tuna roll and Zen Sushi for their tuna tartar, another spot that’s swimming away with our heart is Planet Sushi.

The South Beach location was consistently given love from Snookie, JWoww and the whole Jersey Shore crew so it’s only natural that BrickGals does it up from the spot in Brickell.

With an expansive menu (yes, they have more options than those listed on the placard they slid under your door) that ranges from traditional dishes like coconut shrimp soup, sashimi and chicken teriyaki to more unique items such as Makiroquette Tuna Cheese (thin sliced tuna around green salad and cream cheese) and what they call Volcano (California surimi with baked tuna and seafood on top), Planet Sushi offers a plethora of options for the Japanese connoisseur.

On Monday, BrickGal Jen and I were crunched for time prior to heading out to Tobacco Road for some Monday Night Football Halftime Speed Dating in Brickell.  Famished, we needed something quick and light (um, we obs wanted to look super svelte for our mini dates).  We opted for Planet Sushi’s California Spicy Tuna Roll, California Salmon Roll w/ Cream Cheese and Dragon Roll.  Perfect amount of delish food for two people + less than $20 = #Winning.

Our recommendation:  Never get the same thing twice.  Just re-reading the menu now makes it pretty easy to know where I’m ordering for dinner tonight…

Planet Sushi

26 SW 8th Street

Miami, FL 33130

National Women’s Business Day Today!!!

Yes, BrickGals, today is your day.  September 22nd marks the 1949 founding date of the American Business Women’s Association, the mission of which is “to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership; education, networking support and national recognition.”

If we weren’t lucky enough already with Brickell Ladies Night yesterday, tonight we get complimentary drinks at a few of our hood’s hot spots doing it up tonight for chicas.  Trade in your business card and receive a complimentary drink at Brickell Irish Pub and Segafredo. Proceeds benefit Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade.

“Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.” ~ Charlotte Whitton 

BrickGals Hosts Halftime Speed Dating at Tobacco Road

Yes, Miami’s dating scene pretty much blows (finding a hottie mcbody in the dark at Florida Room on a Saturday night is about as easy as finding Snookie in a crowd of basketball players)…

Yes, even the online dating scene in Miami pretty much blows (hi, here’s a picture from 2 years ago when I did crossfit 5 times a week and ate apples 4 times a day)…

Yes, BrickGals loves you so much that we’re getting ready to change that divot in our city (voila, Monday Night Football halftime speed dating)…

Why yes, I am wearing maroon for the Redskins...

‘Fantasy’ football is no longer just for the guys with Tobacco Road’s new Monday Night Football Fantasy Halftime Speed Dating.   Hosted by yours truly, girls and guys alike can find their match both on and off the field.  Beginning this Monday, September 26th, the speed dating event will take place during halftime of Monday Night Football (this week is Redskins v. Cowboys).

 

Immediately following the end of the second quarter, head to the outside patio for a sexually rousing rendition of the traditional event.

Oh yea, and want to attract a hottie who supports your team?? Duhhh, wear your favorite team’s colors to get the conversation started.

Interested? Shoot me an email to brickgals@gmail.com or post your attendance on the Tobacco Road Facebook Page.

Choose This: Choices Vegan Cafe

** Let me premise this post by stating that I loveeeee meat (boys, no sick jokes here please), and it wasn’t until I started on the Paleo Diet with Crossfit back in May that I thought even one ounce about the type of food I was eating.  Nevertheless, now that I’m eating healthy pretty much all the time, I feel fantastic.**

When I first read about Choices Vegan Cafe in Brickell, I knew I wanted to check out it.  I am on a total kick to try new things, and it seemed like a perfect addition to my Fall 2011 Bucket List (if that isn’t an oxymoron… obs I don’t want to kick the bucket this fall).

Veganator

Completely out of my buddy and I’s comfort zone, we were a bit like fish out of water stepping into the quaint cafe.  Luckily Owner Alex Cuevas welcomed us immediately (bonus: cute smile), explained the concept (all organic vegan meals) and menu (definitely intriguing) as well as offered up recommendations (super helpful).

Vegan Assassin Wrap

I opted for the Veganator ($10), a Vegan Burger topped with LT and a delish cheese sauce to die for, accompanied by a fresh spring mix salad.  My compadre chose the Vegan Assassin’s Insane Mexican Wrap ($13), also with a salad.  Now I can’t speak for mi amiga (obs bc I’m not her although she voiced it was great), but my vegan burger was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had (probably way more healthy too).

To top things off, we were able to taste two “raw” desserts, an amazing faux cookie dough ball (made with nuts) and a chocolate fudge with cherry in the middle.  Both were fantastic but if I had to choose one (which you don’t because they’re somewhat healthy) I’d pick the cookie balls (again, boy, get your mind outta the gutter). Yums!

Ball Me... Cookie Dough Ball Me That Is

** The Brickell map makes this Choices seem further than it is.  Located on 15th Rd, the cafe is about one block from the Walgreens on 13th.

 

Cheering on Snowflake

While we all may not hail from the M-I-A, we now reside in the hood so it’s time to show a little city spirit.  Unfortunately Lebron, Bosh and D-Wade came up a little short and the Marlins are last in the NL-east (booo), so now we set our sites to football.  Tonight is the first MNF of the season, and that means the Miami Dolphins begin their Superbowl run (well maybe if Chad Henne channels some Dan Marino and if, um, Snowflake was real).  

BrickGals has rounded up the Best Football Watch Parties in Brickell because, helloooo, who said the party had to end on Sunday?  It’s football season!

Brickell Irish Pub – BIP has always been a hood favorite for the Heat games (think flashing lights, DJ, screaming fans) so I fathom the Dolphins games will be just as crazy.  Getting us in the mood? $14 pitches, $5 pints and $6 drinks!

Tobacco Road – Watch the Fins on the patio big screen with house-smoked Ribs Chicken & Whiskey! All you can eat for $11.99 and $3 Jameson.  Stay tuned for more information on Halftime Speed Dating starting September 26th (I mean we all want to find a man or woman with similar taste in team!).

Blue Martini – Half priced food, drinks and bottles all night long. And… a lingerie fashion show following the game (Huh?).

Happy Henne Day!!!

Friday Brickell Happy Hour

The time is now my Brickellites; I have finally drummed up the hood’s best happy hours.  Yes, I went out for the foozball games last night. Yes, I had a glass (or 2) of vino at Perricone’s for lunch today.  And, double hell yea for Friday Happy Hour in Brickell!  Check out the Happy Hour page for deets on where to hit this lovely early evening around the hood.

Be a Wine-O Not Winehouse

Too soon? Nah… it’s never too soon to remind all my little BrickGals that overdosing on drugs is not cool (this I know because the D.A.R.E. dog told me so).

You know what is cool? Sampling over 70 different wines in an uber chic setting in the center of Mary Brickell Village.  Uh, yup (obs not all in the same sitting).  Last night I had the pleasure of heading to Cavas Wine Tasting Room on a date (yes BrickGuys, I’m back on the market… be excited) and was not disappointed.  A little late to the party (Cavas has been open for a couple of months now), I’m gonna be on board this vino train for awhile to come.

So let me break it down for ya… Through their state-of-the-art wine dispensing machines (which made me feel a bit like getting an espresso, so I didn’t feel bad to keep getting up for more) in ounce, half-glass or glass amounts, the grape varieties available were like a rainbow of delishishness.  Over 300 bottles are stocked (of the 230 not available through a Jetsons-like machine, you can order by the bottle and pop for a small corkage fee) in a trendy polished Parisian-like setting.  The spot was relatively empty, but staff were knowledgeable and willing to help my guest and I learn the art of wine.  Cavas also serves cheese (duh), charcuterie, Pinxtos (think Spanish version of bruschetta) and more small bites to complement the bevs.

So this weekend make sure to grab your gals (or a sexy hot date), channel your inner Sex in the City, and head to Cavas for a cool glass that keeps ya feelin good.