MY DAY OFF

Danessa Myricks’ Day Off on Long Island Is a Food Lover’s Dream

The makeup artist and brand owner knows where to find great food and artistic inspiration.

By Annie Harrigan and Danessa Myricks

Published on 3/21/2023 at 12:00 PM

Beauty influencer and makeup artist Danessa Myricks | Photo by Alexandra Genova for Thrillist

Danessa Myricks is a makeup artist, photographer, and beauty brand owner from Queens, New York. Myricks started out as a self-taught artist who developed her own unconventional techniques for creating unique looks, centered around beautiful and glowing skin. In 2015, Myricks launched her own beauty brand, Danessa Myricks Beauty, with the intent to create products for everyone, especially those who feel underrepresented by the beauty industry. Since its launch, Myricks’ brand has exploded in popularity and is now sold in Sephora stores across the United States and at other major retailers worldwide. Today, Myricks lives on Long Island, where she moved her brand right before the pandemic, and now finds inspiration in the everyday life of suburban New York.

I like to start not just my day off, but my every day with breakfast from Patano’s Neighborhood Eatery. Patano’s is a small restaurant, with just a few tables and pretty unassuming decor. But here’s the thing about Long Island restaurants, they may not look like much on the outside but the food is real good. I always order the same thing from Patano’s. They know me there and they know my usual order—an omelet with everything in it: bacon, jalapenos, avocado, two types of cheese, and you can’t forget my garlic butter. Patano’s knows exactly what I like and how I like it and I can’t think of a better way to start my day.

I would consider myself a foodie, and Long Island truly has some great food. The Greek food here, for example, is amazing. I am a big fan of both Limani Taverna in Woodbury and Kyma in Roslyn. When I traveled to Santorini, my favorite thing was all the amazing Greek yogurt and the Greek yogurt at Limani just reminds me of the yogurt from my trip. Meanwhile, Kyma—which also has a location in the city—has the best zucchini chips. Anytime someone is going to deep fry zucchini or eggplant, I want it. I don’t even get past the appetizers there at times, the Kyma chips are just unreal.

Iavarone Italian Kitchen and Pizzeria | Photos by Alexandra Genova for Thrillist

"The food there feels like someone is kissing every ingredient that goes into it."

Holding a special place in my heart, Iavarone Italian Kitchen and Pizzeria is the first local restaurant I went to when I moved my office out to Long Island. I love this restaurant for so many reasons, the biggest being it got me through the pandemic. The food there feels like someone is kissing every ingredient that goes into it. Their cauliflower pizza is unlike any I have ever had. Everything from the fish to the steak to the pasta is incredible. Iavarone is one of those spots that really cares for its customers and creates a community. When I go, they know who I am, always prepare a table for me, remember the trips that I’m taking, and say my order before I do. They know my dietary restrictions and will make me special desserts. They really take care of their patrons.

When I’m in the mood for wings, I love to go to The Shed. The Shed is not a spot where I go to sit and eat, I typically pick up my food to go. The wings here are crazy. They have this special aioli that I can’t even describe. To me, buffalo wings and other typical flavors are a bit boring. I like a wing with a twist and The Shed’s wings have a twist.

Another one of my favorite spots is La Candela, a local Peruvian restaurant. I love going to a restaurant and feeling like I’ve been transported to whatever country the cuisine is from. La Candela plays incredible Peruvian music and people will just get up and dance in the aisles between tables. The steak here is incredible. You can go to some of the more well known steakhouses in New York and the steak will be good, but at La Candela, the steak is an experience. It is so well seasoned and their chimichurri is authentic. With a side of plantains, you cannot go wrong with the steak here.

NYCB Theatre at Westbury | Photo by Alexandra Genova for Thrillist

"People would be surprised by the acts who come through here! I’ve seen Floetry there. Billy Joel performs there."

Outside of enjoying the amazing food, there are so many other incredible things to do and see on Long Island. When I can, I love to see shows at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury. People would be surprised by the acts who come through here! I’ve seen Floetry there. Billy Joel performs there. I appreciate being able to see a great show without having to spend hours on the train to go all the way to Madison Square Garden.

Eisenhower Park is another one of my favorite places to go on my day off. People know the big city parks like Central Park and Prospect Park, but never expect to see such a big beautiful one right on Long Island. Eisenhower Park has something for everyone in every season like ice skating in the winter and tennis in the summer. It is a very community-oriented space. I have made so many friends just running the same path every day at the same time. Day or night, it is a magical place. When I’m there, I can just imagine the park is anywhere I want it to be and escape reality.

Eisenhower Park | Photos by Alexandra Genova for Thrillist

"It is a very community-oriented space. I have made so many friends just running the same path every day at the same time. Day or night, it is a magical place. When I’m there, I can just imagine the park is anywhere I want it to be and escape reality."

@thrillist
See how @danessamyricksbeauty spends her day off on Long Island, NY #mydayoff #danessamyricks #longisland #longislandguide #longislandrecs #westbury #coffee #omlette #park #theater #nypizza #makeup #beautytok #traveltok #traveltiktok #travelguide
♬ Lo-fi hip hop - NAO-K

Because I want to make makeup for everybody, it is important for me to see different people in different places. This is why I love to people watch and one of my favorite places to do so is The French Workshop. The French Workshop is a very comfortable cafe with really good coffee and a constantly rotating collection of people. I can sit there with multiple cups of coffee and just watch. My work as a makeup artist tends to be editorial—lots of glowing skin, painted eyes, and bright lips. But as a brand owner, I recognize that not everyone wants to do that everyday. Just as much as I want my products to allow for experimentation, I also want the mother who is grabbing bagels and picking up her kids from school to see herself in my brand. Moving to Long Island has changed the way I think about makeup. Living here has helped me think about who I am creating for. I like to look at how people here are wearing their makeup, how they look on the weekends versus how they look on their way to work. And being able to do so with a great cup of coffee that I don’t have to make myself is an added bonus.

Since Danessa’s brand has gained popularity, she has received recognition from brands such as TikTok, honoring her as a Black History Month 2023 Visionary Voices. Check her TikTok out here.

Annie Harrigan is an editorial coordinator for Thrillist, Eater, and Punch. Find her on Twitter @AnnieAHarrigan.

Since Danessa’s brand has gained popularity, she has received recognition from brands such as TikTok, honoring her as a Black History Month 2023 Visionary Voices. Check her TikTok out here.

Annie Harrigan is an editorial coordinator for Thrillist, Eater, and Punch. Find her on Twitter @AnnieAHarrigan.

@thrillist
See how @danessamyricksbeauty spends her day off on Long Island, NY #mydayoff #danessamyricks #longisland #longislandguide #longislandrecs #westbury #coffee #omlette #park #theater #nypizza #makeup #beautytok #traveltok #traveltiktok #travelguide
♬ Lo-fi hip hop - NAO-K