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To celebrate the new year we continued our yearly tradition of attending Sparkle, Sugarcane Restaurant's Premier Breakfast fete.

We made it in around 7am, and easily found ourselves a spot in the parking lot right outside the venue. After a short wait at the mandatory coat check, we walked into CINE Magic Studios. Sugarcane introduced us to this Williamsburg waterfront property at Labor Day weekend's Tantana. It is a beautiful loft space decorated with white curtains and sparkles hanging from the ceiling. It looked like a winter wonderland. Of course the distinctive Sugarcane signage was everywhere, directing people to the different bars and the breakfast room.

One of the reasons I love Sparkle? It brings new meaning to the concept of "dress to impress". The men were looking very crisp in their suits and ties. And the ladies! Hair fresh, killer dresses and the shoe game was on point! It's a breakfast fete for the grown and sexy and it's nice to see everyone step out and fete in their Sunday best.

Breakfast was served in a second room, which included some standard sugarcane fare as well as some other favorites. The line was very long though and I heard complaints of people who waited in line for extended periods only to reach the front and find out there was no more food.

I was looking for the party this year, so I stuck to the main room with the elevated DJ booth in the center, one long bar to the right as you walked and the bottle service counter on the far right wall. The bartenders were on point, whenever I stepped to the bar there always seemed to be a friendly face ready to take my drink order. That is a neccessity because the DJs were ready to show and prove and I came to dance!

Now as with any large high ceiling venue there were a couple of spots in the room where the echo of the sound system made for an uncomfortable listening experience, but the venue was large enough that those areas were identified and easily avoided.

Sparkle this year was about the music. Maybe it's me, but I most certainly enjoyed. The DJs tore it up! Special mention to Dr Wax who came to Sparkle ready to provide Ivy League level DJ instructions. That is how you fire up a fete! Even the stushest most social people in the place had to hold onto to their skirts or blazers and wine down low during Wax set. Social media was ablaze after the fete about his set especially. I also really enjoyed Back 2 Basics slow jam session, some songs I hadn't heard in a long time, grown folk ting! Things seemed to be ready to stay on a high as the Pantrin Vybz set started but it was plagued with audio problems, as the speakers kept going off and on. Not to be stopped, Pantrin Vybz had the crowd singing the songs he meant to play at the top of their lungs. Sounds for Life got on the set and calmly proceeded to do what he always seems to do: mash up d'place! I heard announcements of Natural Freaks next on the set, but I don't think that ever actually happened. Shout outs as well to Anonymous and DJ Kellz, I well enjoyed the music, it put me in perfect spirits to begin the New Year.

So the party is starting to wind down, and we decided to go get our coats and start to leave. The coat check situation had escalated into madness. I guess people jumped over the coat check table and started to look for their own coats, which they couldnt find because the rooms were poorly organized. In all the screaming yelling and shoving madness I had had enough so we waited off to the side until things died down a bit. When I went to go find my coat I did not see not one coat check person and not one security guard. It's unfortunate when such a premier event is marred by madness and pandemonium.... over coats!

Condolences to Dr Wax who had his DJ bag stolen. It's a sad day when something like this happens at a nice event.

As always, Trini Jungle Juice would like to thank Charmaine and the Sugarcane restaurant family for having us. Hopefully the issues that clouded most people memories of what really was a very nice event can be resolved so Brooklyn can continue to Sparkle in 2015 and beyond.

- Judes aka Rasta Barbie

>> View Sparkle 2014 Gallery

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