Ode to eBay: Selling for Beginners

Oh, eBay, the holy grail of cheapskates and thrift-seekers. Doesn't everyone have a pile of things in the back of their closet to sell on eBay? I started selling a few years ago and I love it. It takes re-gifting to a whole new level. There are many sites with tips for eBay beginners, but here are my five basic tips for sellers:

1. Divide and conquer your closet. With a few exceptions, the best things to sell on eBay are brand name items. If the item is of exceptional quality like a cashmere sweater or a fur coat, you may be able to still get a good selling price, but you'll get the most hits with well known brand names.

2. Take quality photos. It doesn't matter how great the item looks in person if the photo is blurry or taken with a view of your messy basement in the background. Put the item on a black or white towel or against a wall and take a closeup photo. If there are any flaws or special details you want buyers to know about take a photo of those, too. Tell the truth when it comes to flaws or imperfections and don't try to hide them from a buyer. It's better to inform everyone than to have an unhappy buyer who will leave negative feedback.

3. Research what similar items are selling for by using the advanced search option on eBay. Search all completed listings to see what sold in the last 30 days and to find out details like what starting price and shipping price other sellers listed. It's tempting to start an item at .99 cents because the selling fee is low but I find it better to start at a higher price. You can get 20 bids on a low priced item and it will end up selling for less than a reasonably priced item. If you find many similar items, set your item a dollar or two lower than their price and people may be inclined to bid on yours first.

4. Don't get hung up on fancy details. Adding a pretty border and 10 photos probably won't make your item sell any better than if you have a clear and concise listing. Use simple terms in your title and think about what you would type in to search for the item. No one searches for exclamation points or LOOK NOW@@@ and you could be wasting space for useful descriptions such as the material, size, color or condition.

5. Don't be afraid to communicate with people. If a potential buyer emails you a question, use the option to post the question and answer on the listing in case others have similar concerns. Transactions can get heated quickly when people don't communicate. Try to resolve issues like an unhappy buyer or delayed shipping with the buyer before reporting them to eBay or leaving negative feedback.

Bottom line: Selling on eBay is easy, so just do it already!

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Reduced Cancer Popcorn

When I first heard that it is possible to make microwaved popcorn using just popcorn kernels and a paper bag I did not believe delicious popped corn could be so easy. Had the evil popcorn corporations fooled me into believing pre-packed bags with fake buttery flavoring (and a bit of carcinogens) were the only way? I have tried this simplified method it and I am a believer. That's right, just put some kernels in a small paper bag (I usually go with 1/4 cup), tape or staple closed, microwave for three minutes and you have fresh popcorn. I like to toss the kernels in a little olive oil and salt first. And if you're really missing that butter flavor melt a little in the mix after it's popped.

Bottom Line: Just the way we like popcorn: cheap and easy.

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Go Go...to GoGo Curry?

I've been making my way through Time Out New York's 2007 cheap list. One of the small spots they recommend is GoGo Curry in the garment district. I stopped by the other night and I was less than impressed. Sure, the portions are generous and the prices are right but it felt like a fast food joint for burly Japanese men.

I tried the basic chicken curry which turned out to be a heap of white rice topped with a breaded fried piece of chicken and a brown curry sauce. The sauce tasted more like beefy curry gravy and it became increasingly gelatinous as it cooled. But for $7.00, it was filling and tasted more interesting than typical fast food.

GoGo Curry has a strange gorilla/baseball theme. Portions are baseball plays: A small curry is a walk, then comes the single, double and finally triple (which, as you can imagine, is enormous). The gorilla mascot looms at the top of the neon menu which organizes dishes by main ingredient. Choices include chicken, shrimp and sausage with a variety of additional toppings like egg and cabbage. If beefy curry sounds like your thing you won't be disappointed.

Bottom Line: Hearty curry dishes that won't break the bank
GoGo Curry
273 W. 38th Street (at 8th Avenue)
212.730.5555

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Ten Web Sites...

...that will save you tens and tens of dollars.

1) Airfare Watchdog
Updated daily, this site combs the web for the cheapest flights out there. Combine Airfare Watchdog with Travelzoo, and you shouldn't ever have to pay for a full-price vacation again.

2) Top Button
Fashion savvy cheapskates will love this site, which provides information on local sample sales, online sales, and budget-friendly fashion events.

3) Housing Works Auctions
Think eBay on a much smaller, more philanthropical scale. Bid on gently used clothes and furniture, then feel good about the fact that all proceeds from sales go to charity.

4) Restaurant.com
Download coupons to use at select restaurants in the area.

5) Etsy.com
Need an inexpensive but interesting and most likely one-of-a-kind gift? Look no further than this online craft fair, brought to you by talented do-it-yourselfers throughout the U.S.

6) Craigslist
I know you know Craigslist. But the possibilities here are endless -- Furnish your apartment, buy a new [to you] TV, score some free plants... You can even find a cheap date if the need arises.

7) Overstock.com
Check this site out for discounted goods ranging from luxury sheets and towels to cheap barstools and, even, I kid you not, wedding rings.

8) Open Table
Make your life easier by making restaurant reservations online, then rack up points to earn free dining dollars.

9) All Recipes
Come on, kids; cooking's cool. It's also a whole lot cheaper than takeout or, of course, dinner out. Use the ever-so-useful ingredient search on All Recipes to figure out what you can whip up with the ingredients you already have lurking around your pantry.

10) eBay
The queen of shopping sites. If you want it, chances are eBay's got it. Plus, a little healthy bidding competition never hurt anyone.

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Cafe Mogador

I am always looking for a cheap restaurant that doesn't look or feel like a cheap restaurant. Sometimes you just need a place that feels like the food should be expensive and doesn't involve waiting in line or sitting in a cramped corner. Cafe Mogador is a quaint spot with delicious and interesting Moroccan cuisine. The hummus is very good (and I am hummus-obsessed) and the cous cous platters are served steaming hot and are almost too much food for two people to split. I also recommend the tangine dishes and their cocktails aren't half bad, either.

Bottom Line: Classy digs and cheap Moroccan eats
Cafe Mogador
101 Saint Marks Place
212.677.2226

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Dining for Dollars

I am a sucker for rewards programs. I sign up for frequent flier offers, I have a frequent flier credit card, I eat at restaurants that give me double points on said credit card and order flowers off of their online frequent flier mall. It's a sickness. So you can imagine why I love opentable.com. Not only can you make restaurant reservations without ever picking up a phone, you earn points with each completed reservation. Once you've racked up enough of those points, opentable.com will issue you a gift certificate good at any participating restaurants.

If more than 700 restaurants in New York aren't enough to pique your interest, opentable.com has restaurants in 47 states (I'm pulling for you West Virginia!!!) and seven other countries. I used the points I gathered from NYC reservations on a posh dinner in Las Vegas. Even better, you can make reservations for other names. Perfect for all of the administrative assistants out there (ahem).

Normally, 20 reservations gives you the points for a $20 gift certificate. But some restaurants offer up extra points for off times. Dine at one of those spots twice and you have enough points for the $20 gift card. Brilliant!

Bottom Line: Frequent restaurant diner rewards across the US and beyond!
www.opentable.com

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Why Paupers Don't Eat Popcorn

Everyone knows that the only economical way to buy movie snacks is to get them at a drugstore, before hitting the theater.

Forget to stop by your local Duane Reade, though, and you're in a heap of trouble. The instant you reach for your ticket stub and start making your way towards your movie, you're trapped. It's a FOX meets Las Vegas mentality--once you're in, you--and your Twizzler money--belong to the powers-that-be.

Check out this article, "Make It Large for a Quarter More?" for an interesting take on the history of movie theater concession stands (and to learn more about the genius minds behind gazillion-dollar popcorn).

Bottom Line: According to Slate.com, concessions account for 40% of a theater's total net revenue. Buck the system! Sneak in your own M&M's.

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The $6 Movie

I still use my college ID without shame to get discounts. I applaud the folks at my alma mater who neglected to put a date on my ID and I plan to use it until my hair turns gray. But my ID hasn't helped me with the steep movie prices in NYC. Ticket pushers laugh when I ask if they offer a student discount. So the next best thing is the A.M.Cinema program at select AMC theaters.

Shows before noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are only $6. Double check before you go to make sure your location participates. Last Sunday morning I saw The Darjeeling Limited during its opening weekend at 11:50 am for $6, almost half of what it would have cost for me to see the flick 10 minutes later. Now my only challenge is to keep myself from blowing my discount on popcorn and candy in the future...

Bottom Line: Same movies, for less
check www.amctheaters.com for A.M.Cinema participating locations

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Better than a man with a van...

The only thing worse than searching for a cheap apartment in NYC is finding a moving company that won't rip you off. Usually you start by thinking you can bribe some friends to help you load up a rental truck and move in DIY fashion. Then you start thinking about the five flights up to your new walk up and that heavy couch you inherited. Next, you search craigslist. Stop right there.

Using a legitimate mover has perks. They offer insurance, have a big truck (not a shady beat up van) and know how to move heavy furniture without breaking it. I've used UM Moving (ummoving.com) for my past two moves and they are one of the cheapest options around. They charge $89 an hour, with a minimum of three hours plus between 30 minutes to one hour of travel time. Sure, it all adds up, but that price includes two free wardrobe boxes (meaning you can basically transport anything hanging in your closet without even taking things of the hangers). Now, don't forget to tip! Bottom Line: Take a load off and get a (cheap) mover already!
www.ummoving.com

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Free museums for the healthy, not-at-all-wealthy, and wise

It may be 80 degrees outside, but New York's fall season is here in full force. The vacations are over, our coworkers are back in town, and school's in session.
Hello, depression.

I'm missing the summer; I'll admit it.
I'm already reminiscing about half-day Fridays and all of my vacation days and BBQs and afternoons spent frolicking at the beach.

Don't get me wrong; fall's got its own rewards. There's Central Park foliage. And contemporary art at the Met. eBay's giving out free listings through September 31, and New York Mag's three-month culture orgy would make even the most sullen lamenting-the-end-of-summer New Yorker look forward to cooler days.

Another reason to feel good about the fall? The brilliant minds over at NewYorkology have compiled a list of museums offering free admission hours throughout the season.

So maybe we do have to trade our beer garden outings and picnics in the park for scarves and indoor culture, but thankfully, New York has some of the best museums in the world. And when they're free, they're better than ever.

Here's NewYorkology's master list:

Mondays
Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Free every weekday from mid-November through February (normally $8)

Tuesdays
Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Free all day Tuesday, all year (normally $8)
Wave Hill gardens - Free all day (normally $6)
Morgan Library & Museum - Free access to the McKim rooms (Mr. Morgan’s library and study) from 3PM to 5PM (full museum access $12)

Wednesdays
Bronx Zoo - Admission by optional "donation" all day (normally $14)
Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust - Free from 4PM to 8PM (normally $10)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Free every weekday from mid-November through February (normally $8)
NY Botanical Garden - Free grounds access all day (normally $6)
Van Cortlandt House Museum - Free all day (normally $5)

Thursdays
Museum of Arts & Design - Pay-what-you-wish from 6PM to 8PM (normally $9)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Free every weekday from mid-November through February (normally $8)

Fridays
Museum of Modern Art - Free from 4PM to 8PM (normally $20)
Whitney Museum of American Art - Pay-what-you-wish from 6PM to 9PM (normally $15)
Guggenheim - Pay-what-you-wish from 5:45PM to 7:45PM (normally $18)
International Center of Photography - "voluntary contribution" admission from 5PM to 8PM (normally $12)
Morgan Library & Museum - Free from 7PM to 9PM (normally $12)
New-York Historical Society - Free from 6PM to 8PM (normally $10)
Museum of the Moving Image - Free from 4PM to 8PM (normally $10)
Rubin Museum of Art - Free from 7PM to 10PM (normally $10)
Folk Art Museum - Free from 5:30PM to 7:30PM (normally $9)
Bronx Museum - Free all day (normally $5)
The Noguchi Museum - Pay-what-you-wish on the first Friday of each month, all day (normally $10)
Asia Society - Free 6PM to 9PM (normally $10)
NY Hall of Science - Free 2PM to 5PM (normally $11)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Free every weekday from mid-November through February (normally $8)

Saturdays
Jewish Museum - Free from 11:00AM - 5:45PM (normally $12)
NY Botanical Garden - Free grounds access from 10AM to noon on Saturdays (normally $6)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Free from 10AM to noon (normally $8)
Wave Hill - Free Saturdays from 9AM to noon (normally $6)
Brooklyn Museum - Free First Saturdays of most months from 5PM to 11PM (normally a suggested $8)

Sundays
NY Hall of Science - Free 10AM to 11AM(normally $11)
Frick Collection - Pay-what-you-wish from 11AM to 1PM (normally $15)
Museum of the City of New York - Free from 10AM to noon (normally a suggested $9)
Morgan Library & Museum - Free access to the McKim rooms (Mr. Morgan’s library and study) from 4PM to 6PM (full museum access $12)

Bottom Line: R.I.P., summer. It's time to embrace a new season.

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Free Friday Five

Nothing's cheaper than free.
This weekend we bring you...

1. The National, Friday, 8/17, 8:00PM
Seaport Music Festival (South Street Seaport, Pier 17)
Expect crowds at this free Friday night concert -- The National, after a slew of sold-out early summer concerts, doesn't have another show booked until December. Music starts at 6:00PM with Takka Takka, followed at 7:00PM by The Forms.

2. Free Yoga Class, Saturday-Sunday, 8/18-8/19, 8:15AM-10:00AM (times vary)
in various parks throughout the city
What better way to kick off the weekend than with a relaxing outdoor yoga session? Sure, it's not easy to wake up before 9AM on a Saturday morning, but treat yourself to some inner peace, and you'll be blissed out all day. Check Naam Yoga's web site for exact times and locations.

3. Picnic for Peace, Saturday, 8/18, 11:00AM-6:00PM
at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx
According to the Pelham Bay Peace Association, nearly 70% of Americans oppose the war in Iraq. The group's Picnic for Peace aims to bring together like minds for a peaceful day of food, music and anti-war discussion.

4. Free Music at Rockwood Music Hall, Ongoing
196 Allen Street (between E. Houston and Stanton)
The music at Rockwood is always free -- and almost always -- very good. This bar is small and gets crowded, though, so arrive early in the evening, settle down at a table, and listen all night long.

5. Summergarden at the MOMA, Sunday 8/19, 7:00PM
in the MOMA Sculpture Garden (11 West 53rd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues
The dog days of August are generally when I start panicking because I haven't taken advantage of all of the amazing shows and movies and events that NYC offers for free in the summer. Case in point: I still haven't been to the MOMA's Sunday night Summergarden, which is ongoing through August 26. Every Sunday night, the museum opens its sculpture garden to the public and hosts live music (this weekend's guests hail from Juilliard).

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Something Old, Something New

Here's a heads up for all of you beauty product-loving ladies out there -- This Saturday you'll have the chance to swap some of your old (expired? crumbly? horrifyingly ugly/bright/bought in a moment of insanity?) make-up for a cosmetics bag filled with award winning goods from Glamour.

The event, called "The Glammies Take Manhattan" will be taking place all day on Saturday in various locales throughout the city.

As an added bonus, the charity Look Good...Feel Better, a foundation for women in cancer treatment, gets a dollar for every item you bring in.

Bottom Line: Kiss your used-up lipsticks good-bye, and do the world some good.

The Glammies Take Manhattan
(locations include Bryant Park, Central Park, Madison Square Park, Union Square and Rockefeller Center)

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Free Comedy...Unless You're Late

Sunday night I attempted to see the weekly free 9 pm show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. It's a nice concept: Wait in line, see a free show with Amy Poehler and other top notch comedians. But, of course there are people in NYC who are willing to wait longer than I. Note: Arriving 30 minutes before they hand out the free tickets at 8:15 pm does not get you in. Next time I'm packing dinner and coming a little earlier.

Bottom Line: Free and cheap comedy shows
check ucbtheatre.com for schedules
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
307 W 26th Street (between 8th and 9th Aves)

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Welcome to Hell (or Finding a Cheap Apartment in NYC)

There's no denying it. New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world. And if the $11 movie tickets, $16 cocktails and doctors who don't take insurance aren't bad enough, try finding an affordable apartment. NYC is a city of compromises: either live in a 6th-floor walk up shoebox in Chelsea that costs half your annual income or an enormous cheap apartment so far in the Bronx that none of your friends will visit. But, your perfect place is out there. Don't give in too early and be ready to get creative with location and size.

In my apartment searches I've seen some nasty places. One apartment, complete with a filthy carpet that included one hoop earring, was in a to-be-converted housing project with a bullet-proof-glass security checkpoint advertised as a luxury doorman. A broker in the East Village showed me a 5th-floor walk up with a guy actually asleep in one of the rooms (he told me to just quietly walk past him so I could see the view from his window). I've seen air shafts, clogged toilets and "small kitchens" (code for a mini fridge and a sink). And at a lot of these places, just as I wondered who would pay to live in such an expensive shit hole, there were several people frantically scribbling out security deposit checks and applications.

I just found a new apartment in Brooklyn and the best way to go about the excruciating process is to look everywhere. Start with craigslist but beware of the brokers. Unless you're willing to pay up to 15% of your new annual rent for the privilege of having a deadbeat broker let you in an apartment and pressure you to sign right there, check the by owner and no fee listings. Try the sublet section of craigslist as well; NYC is full of people who have to leave town and break their lease at the last minute. Better yet, avoid the middle man and call up management companies that will rent their properties straight to you. NYbits.com has a good list of buildings with rentals, but I didn't find too many within my price range.

Ask friends and colleagues how they found their apartment and contact their management company or landlord. Be prepared to hold out until the last minute. New York is a seller's market and openings pop up every day for immediate occupancy. Usually you'll find the most apartment openings a few weeks before your move in date.

Consider looking outside Manhattan. Hop on the subway or train or Path and explore the neighborhoods. You'll find people like you who appreciate fun neighborhood bars and restaurants and are smart enough to dig around to find a good deal on an apartment. Check out Groundednyc.com for listings in Brooklyn. It's new to the online apartment listing world, but they have some interesting inexpensive places listed. I avoided the websites that require a fee to see the apartment listings because I don't think they are legitimate. If you're found an apartment using these sites, please let me know. But as far as I'm concerned, most of them are a scam. Keep a list of questions to ask about every apartment you see such as:

• What's included? (I love how people in this city act like having water included is a luxury. But the places that include electricity in the rent? Pretty sweet.)
• Will I need a guarantor?
• Is there an on-site super?
• Is there laundry in the building? If not, where is the closest coin-op or wash and fold?
• Is there air conditioning or a window suitable to hold an air conditioner?
• Where is the closest subway or other transportation? (Google the address to be safe since having to walk four avenue blocks is much different than four numbered street blocks)

If you happen to speak with someone who has lived in the apartment, ask if they've had any problems with the landlord or super and if they have seen bugs or mice (and run if they say yes to either). And while you're at it, Google the landlord. I have a friend who googled her new landlord and found a few "worst landlord in NYC" posts and articles and notices of legal action.

Bottom Line: Think smart, ask questions and do whatever it takes to avoid using a broker to find an apartment in NYC

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Down by the River

Ever forget that Manhattan is an island? It's surrounded by water. Water that leads to other bodies of land. Like Governor's island. (I promise I'm going somewhere with this.) So why was I so stunned to hear that every weekend in the summer the New York City Downtown Boathouse offers free kayak trips to Governor's island? It just never crossed my mind.

It turns out that the New York City Downtown Boathouse, an all-volunteer organization, has several levels of free kayaking all summer long. I showed up to Pier 96 (at about 56th Street and the Hudson River) along with KG at 7:45 am a few Saturdays ago to give the Governor's Island tour a shot.

Now, there were several moments of doubt involved in this excursion. First, the website notes that the trips to Governor's Island are "a few hours longer" than the usual trips. Think five to six hours. Of almost constant paddling. They aren't kidding when they say the trip isn't for beginners. But, if you are in shape (and slightly masochistic), you'll be fine...and hurting the next few days.

But seeing Manhattan from a kayak is worth all the paddling and early rising. Bottom Line: Urban kayaking around Manhattan
Pier 96
www.downtownboathouse.org

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The Pearl River Post

I've been hesitant to write about Pearl River Mart.

I've been hesitant because I'm 99% sure that you've either:

a) already been there and love it as much as I do.
b) already been there and nearly love it as much as I do.
c) have no interest in going because you have no interest in Chinatown crap (if this is you, then I'm sorry; we can't be friends).

If you fall into category a or b, then you probably don't need to read the following love letter to Pearl River Mart. If you fall into category c, then you probably don't need to be reading this blog.
If, however, you fall into that 1% of cheap New Yorkers who haven't yet discovered Pearl River (it's been around since 1971, and its wares are often featured in magazines), then keep reading. This post is for you.

Why is Pearl River so dear to my heart? What's so amazing about an enormous store that sells cheap trinkets and you-could-buy-them-anywhere-on-Canal-Street slippers?

Pearl River, my friends, is a three-story wonderland--let me repeat: wonderland--of useful goods. You're a party-thrower? Get yourself to Pearl River for some paper lanterns (about $20 for a string of lights) and some new dishes (starting at $4). Looking for a fun birthday gift? Check out Pearl River's funky thermoses ($12), retro-looking luggage tags ($3.25), or crazy alarm clock section (clocks start at $10). Wrap it all up in origami paper or takeout cartons ($1), then buy yourself some gummy candy ($2.25 for a bag) and tell the people at Pearl River how much you like their store (I did this and got a free mug).

I could go on more. I could tell you about Pearl River's stationery section, its cool tote bags, teapots, loose tea, soaps, window blinds, buddha statuettes, robes, slippers, baskets, hampers, stools, candles, and gongs, but really, the only way to experience the magic of Pearl River is to go there yourself.

Bottom Line: Good. Cheap. Fun.
This place is a gift giver's dream come true.

Pearl River Mart
477 Broadway
212.431.4770

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Free Friday Five

Nothing's cheaper than free.
This weekend we bring you...

1. Power of the Peep, Sunday 7/29, 3PM-5PM
at the Anthology Film Archives (32 2nd Avenue)
You've torn their heads off, you've tried to microwave them, and every spring you buy them in boxloads to poke at during parties. But Peeps don't grow on trees, and this film aims to explain what these peculiar marshmallowy treats truly are. Watch now, and impress your friends with all your useless Peep knowledge come Easter. RSVP to get in free.

2. Bellies & Brass Beach Party at the Floating Pool Lady, Sunday, 7/29, 4PM-9PM
on the East River off the Brooklyn Promenade
Everyone's talking about the crazy [floating] pool in Brooklyn Heights. Why not check it out this Sunday? Hit the city's newest beach for free music, volleyball and swimming.

3. TV on the Radio, Sunday 7/29, 3:30PM
at McCarren Pool Park in Williamsburg
If you haven't already been to one of the McCarren Park Pool Parties, and you're more into live music than a DJ, then it's time to hop on the L train and get yourself to Williamsburg. Go this Sunday for your fill of free music from the very popular TV on the Radio.

4. Wine Sampling at Union Square Wines & Spirits, ongoing
at 140 4th Avenue (14th Street)
One way to beat the heat this weekend is to stay indoors. Take it one step further: Stay indoors and drink. For free.
Just pick up a "point" card at Union Square Wines & Spirits, then spend the afternoon using said card on said shop's very cool tasting machines. There's even a lounge-like area complete with a TV.

5. The Actor's Rap, Sunday 7/29, 8PM
in Herbert Von King Park (Tomkins Avenue, between Lafayette & Green Avenues in Brooklyn)
Calling all hip hop fans...
This comedy, written by J. Kyle Manzay, is a "beat-filled farce" about a group of actors who kidnap a famous rapper-turned-actor so he won't steal their roles (think of all the talented guys who lost their chances on Broadway when P. Diddy decided to take the stage). Laughs guaranteed.

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Drink Dinner; Eat for Free

The first time I went to Crocodile Lounge in the East Village was because I heard they had a Skee-Ball machine. I had just come from a big dinner and was ready to work it all off tossing a few chart-topping rounds of the old Skee-Ball. I ordered a beer and the bartender handed me a nondescript red ticket. "Take this to the back for a free pizza," she said. "You get a free pizza with every drink." Um, what?? I was filled with a sense of amazement (this is Manhattan, food isn't just handed out for free) and incredible disappointment (I was so full pizza didn't even sound appealing). I pushed through the crowd toward the mini game room in the back and found that some NYU freshmen had started a drunken Skee-ball tournament that mostly consisted of taking photos of each other to put on facebook.

Thus began my quest to find other bars that offer free pizza. I returned to Crocodile Lounge during happy hour and tried the surprisingly large pie (free with my $6 pint of Stella) which was basic but better than some of the greasy slices I've paid in this city. Although it seems like the dough gets tough from sitting out, the pizza is pulled fresh from the oven and served hot and gooey. I lost a few rounds of Skee-Ball in the then vacant game room and called it a night. Next stop was Alligator Lounge in Williamsburg. Something looked familiar. The bar felt more dive-y but the pizza was identical and the decor was just as tasteless. Alligator...Crocodile...it turns out they have the same owners. And they have another joint, Capone's, also in Williamsburg. Make the trek to Williamsburg if you'd rather gawk at hipsters than 18-year-old NYU kids. I'll be heading there next time.

Bottom Line: These bars serve up a free pizza with every drink

Crocodile Lounge
325 E. 14th Street (at 1st Ave.)
212.477.7747

Alligator Lounge
600 Metropolitan Avenue (at Lorimer)
718.599.4440

Capone's
221 N. 9th Street (at Roebling St.)
718.599.4044

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Watch out, Barnes & Noble

There's a new bookseller in town.

Though it's actually not in town. It's online.
And it's not really a seller, either, because all of the books and CDs and DVDs and video games available there are free.
Yes. Free.
Thanks to the brilliant minds behind SwapTree, bartering has reached an all new level.

Think of the site as a sort of Match.com for your books and CDs. Once you sign up (there's no fee), SwapTree's algorithms calculate what you can get for the items you want to get rid of. The site shops around to find your perfect trade, and once the match is made, all you have to do is stick your item in the mail and wait for your own new "purchase" to arrive.

Bottom Line: Free books? Yes, please.

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Tacos Al Fresco

I love taco trucks. I don't care how full I am or what time it is, there's always room for a taco truck taco. The Super Tacos truck on 96th Street and Broadway is up and running this summer and I stopped by the other weekend to try a chicken taco. It was a little on the dry side, but at $2 and with a few squirts of the red and green sauces provided at the counter, it hit the spot. I didn't feel up to trying the more exotic varieties like goat and tongue, but I had to give them props for variety. I don't think Super Tacos is worth the trip up to 96th Street, but if you're in the neighborhood, don't miss it.

Bottom Line: Best taco truck on the Upper West Side
Super Tacos
96th Street and Broadway (NE corner)
917.837.0866

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Free Friday Five

Nothing's cheaper than free.
This weekend we bring you...

1. The Siren Music Festival, Saturday, 7/21, 12PM-9PM
on Coney Island
Pack some sunscreen and hit this free all-day music event to check out emerging (and some already emerged) alternative bands. One of the biggest music festivals of the year, expect to see performers like the New York Dolls, We Are Scientists, Lavender Diamond, and Elvis Perkins, to name a few.

2. Really, Really Free Market, Saturday, 7/21, 12PM
at St. Mark's Church (2nd Avenue & 10th Street)
This is basically the biggest and best curb alert you'll ever get: EVERYTHING at this market is free. Whether you're shopping around for some new[ish] dishes or some weekend reading material or even a massage, I guarantee you'll find it here.
And why not keep the free love chain flowing? Clean out your closet and pass on some of your own goods.

3. "Rock Out With Your Guac Out" Event, Saturday 7/21, 7PM
at Hope Lounge (10 Hope Street, Brooklyn)
Rock? Good. Guac? Yes, please.
Stuff your face with free Mexican food 'til 11PM while rocking out to various DJs. Beers will be $3 each, and there's talk of a Red Bull power hour.

4. Name That Tune with Sara Schaefer, Sunday 7/22, 9:15PM
at Union Hall (702 Union Street at 5th Avenue, Brooklyn)
Test your song savvy at this Sunday night competition with comedian Sara Schaefer. You might want to brush up your skills before you go -- Prizes will be given, and the competition will be fierce.

5. Central Park SummerStage, Sunday 7/22, 3PM
at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park (69th Street and 5th Avenue)
From Central Park's website: "SummerStage is hipster heaven on Sunday, when we feature two groove-heavy groups and an avant-garde marching band."
I'm not sure how I feel about going to hipster heaven, but the lineup, Brazilian Girls, Cat Empire, and Himalayas, sounds interesting.

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I Want My (Free) TV

Sometime around when cable TV became a necessity and when flat screens popped up in cars, someone neglected to cater to those of us who don't want to pay for TV. Maybe it's just my apartment, but every channel comes in fuzzy and it isn't worth the trouble to adjust the antenna (which I purchased from a guy at Radio Shack who clearly thought I was a hermit stuck in the stone age) to watch reruns of Friends where you can only see shadowy blurs of color. I was convinced I didn't need TV. What a waste of time! It's so lazy. Then I got bored. And desperate for mind-numbing entertainment. That is how I found TV Links.

TV Links is a website full of, you guessed it, links to TV shows. There are mainstream network shows like Seinfeld, The O.C. and Heros. There are even HBO shows like The Sopranos, Deadwood and Six Feet Under. But the best part (I think) about TV Links is the weird, random shows on there. When's the last time you saw an episode of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Maybe you've been craving a little Fraggle Rock or 21 Jump Street? Keep in mind many of the links only have a few select episode and the quality isn't exactly crystal clear. But it's free after all, what did you expect? Now, if you watch nothing else on the site, you must watch a few episodes of Peep Show, a sort of British version of Arrested Development and The Office. It's become my new way of testing my friends. If they like Peep Show and become immediately obsessed, then we can remain friends and live happily ever after in Peep Show euphoria. If they can only muster a little chuckle...well you can guess why I've been bored recently.

I actually have neglected to post anything on cheaptricksnyc about TV Links out of fear. I love TV Links. I do not understand how it exists and live in constant fear it will be shut down. One night a few weeks ago I sat down to enjoy an episode of Peep Show and it appeared to have been taken off the site. I vowed never again to take TV Links for granted. Once it started working again I feverishly watched all of the episodes of Peep Show one after another all night like an old lady playing the penny slots in Atlantic City. I don't want to go back to that place. Use this knowledge of TV Links for good and, for my sake, not evil.

Bottom Line: Free TV that's almost better than cable

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Give me an R! Give me an S! Give me another S!

If you consider yourself a techie or a computer geek, then please stop reading this post immediately, as I'm guessing you've already mastered RSS. For everyone else, read on. Your life is about to get a little less complicated.

RSS is a content search engine that lets you "subscribe" to various websites and web searches. Once you subscribe, you receive feeds from the website/web search every time the site is updated.

This means, for instance, that if you're looking on Craigslist for a no-fee studio apartment in Dumbo, that instead of checking back in with with Craig every 5 minutes to see if any new apartments have been added, you can rest easy. Any updates that meet your search criteria will automatically be sent to you.

You can use RSS to get weather alerts, travel deals, music info, and more, but I'm particularly obsessed with the search feeds. Looking for an apartment? You need a search feed. Want to buy a specific type of couch for your living room? Search feed. Jonesing for a new boyfriend between the ages of 18 and 39? Search feed.

Here's how to do it:

1. Set up an RSS Reader. I signed up for Google Reader, and it's incredibly easy to use. You can subscribe to feeds in packets ("food blogs," for instance), or you can add your own sites.

2. Go to Craigslist (or eBay or some site along those lines) and do a search for whatever it is you're looking for (a Three Musketeers salt shaker, a lover, etc.). Copy the URL for that search.

3. In your RSS Reader, add a new feed, and paste in the Craigslist URL.

Then you're set! Instead of compulsively searching and researching on Craigslist, you can just take an occasional look at your RSS reader. Easy, this.

Bottom Line: Technology rocks.

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Cool Iced Coffee

Let's just come out and admit it. Iced coffee should not cost more than hot coffee. Ice is not expensive. Yet, Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts know that they can charge more for the use of ice because making iced coffee from hot coffee is a pain. It's either too warm or too diluted. But thanks to Cindy Price's article in the NY Times with a perfect recipe for iced coffee, I will never purchase iced coffee again. Ok, that might be a stretch, but that's just how excited I am about this.

It's as simple as mixing ground coffee with water and letting the mixture "brew" overnight. What results (after filtering out the grounds) is a decidedly not bitter and perfect coffee for icing. The recipe suggests diluting it with water, but I found that it is perfect as it is. Check out the recipe and let me know if you agree.

Bottom Line: Cool and cheap iced coffee at home

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Free Friday Five

Nothing's cheaper than free.
This weekend we bring you...

1. Strange Fruit, Saturday 7/14, 4PM, 6PM, & 8PM
at the Brooklyn Bridge Park (Dumbo)
They're Australian? No big deal. They're a performing arts company? Lots of those. But these kids, my friends, have shunned the stage for the sky and perform on sway poles. They liken themselves to "a field of wheat swaying in the breeze." How about "dancers on sticks?" Whatever the case, this show is bound to be entertaining...

2. Bastille Day Bonanza, Sunday, 7/15, 12PM-6PM
on 60th Street (between Lexington and 5th Avenue)
This annual fair celebrates all things French. Sip some Lillet, eat a crepe or two, and listen to the live music playing all afternoon. Or check out the Tour de France stationary bike race, enter a raffle to win a trip to Paris, and watch a game of pétanque. Admission is free. Vive la France!

3. The Floating Pool and Brooklyn Heights Beach, ongoing throughout the summer
at 334 Furman Street, off of Joralemon
Want to see some sand but don't feel like taking a 90-minute ride on the LIRR? Then check out Brooklyn Heights' new manmade beach off of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. The beach is part of the public park, and once you're in, you can rent an umbrella, grab a burger, play volleyball, or swim in the Floating Pool (which sits on a barge in the water). The bonus? Amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.

4. Sid & Buddy Karaoke, Sunday 7/15, 10PM
at Galapagos Art Space (60 N. 6th Street between Wythe & Kent) Stretch your weekend at this rock & roll karaoke party in Williamsburg. Prizes! Costumes! Who cares that it's a school night?

5. Shakespeare in the Park[ing Lot], Saturday 7/14, 8PM
in the parking lot at 85 Ludlow Street
Summer in NYC is Shakespeare crazed, and you've got options, options, options... That said, if you're in more of a downtown mood than an uptown one, hit up Shakespeare in the Parking Lot on Saturday night. There aren't any chairs (this is a parking lot, people!), so don't forget to bring a blanket or something to sit on. This season's show is Romeo and Juliet.

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Calling all Morning People

If you're a morning person (I'm not), and you love top 40 music, The Today Show and Good Morning America free Friday morning summer concerts are for you. These start somewhere between 7 am and 8 am and are usually crowded with bushy-tailed bright-eyed awake people and a few squinting, mole-in-daylight office drones who are heading to work early (ahem). Last year I saw Kanye West, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. Each involved a lot of waiting around, and they usually only sing one or two songs. But if you happen to work in midtown, you might as well stop by Friday mornings to check it out.

The Today Show concerts tape at Rockefeller Plaza.
7/13 KT Tunstall
7/20 Hairspray the movie
7/27 Marc Anthony
8/3 Vince Gill & Amy Grant
8/17 Maroon 5
8/24 Martina McBride
8/31 Chris Brown

Good Morning America concerts tape at Bryant Park.
7/13 Fantasia
7/20 John Mayer
7/27 Sugarland
8/3 John Legend
8/10 Mika
8/17 Eve & Sean Paul
8/24 TBD


Bottom Line: Who cares who's playing...it's free...unless you've called in sick and you're enjoying blissful sleep

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The quest for cheap summer dresses

I was reading Cathy Horyn's piece in The New York Times about so-called inexpensive dresses. She does well with a $65 dress from Victoria's Secret in the end, but I have a secret dress spot in Soho where the you'll find cute in-the-moment dresses under $40. The fabrics Exstaza uses are not the best quality, but they will last through the season.

Bottom Line: You can never have enough summer dresses
Exstaza
491 Broadway at Broome St.
212.925.8193

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DIY $1.99 Pad Thai

Yep, you read it right. Pad Thai, the standard Americanized sweet noodle dish on every Thai take out menu, can be purchased at Trader Joe's for $1.99. In the time you would have wasted waiting for your greasy version to be delivered from some hole-in-the-wall you've never seen in person, a cheap DIY alternative can be yours.

So, $1.99 is a bit of a stretch. The box comes with just rice noodles and sauce. It's much tastier and resembles actual Pad Thai when you add some vegetables, meat, a drizzle of lime juice and a little peanut butter at the end. I like to add green beans, frozen sugar snap peas, a scrambled egg and chicken. The result easily feeds two and works out to be more like $6 a person.


Soak the noddles in hot water (don't use boiling water - these cook very quickly) while you saute the veggies and chicken. I happen to have a wok but it's not needed. You can get away with using a large pan, just be sure it's big enough to add the noodles and sauce at the end.


Once the noodles are soft, add to the pan with the sauce (I like mine on the lighter side so I usually just use half of the sauce) and cook all of it together for a minute or two. Add crushed peanuts (or a drizzle of peanut butter) and squeeze a lime on top and voila!

Bottom Line: Cheap DIY Pad Thai from Trader Joe's hits the spot!
Trader Joe's
142 E. 14th Street
212.529.4612

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The Road to Red Hook, Brooklyn

So it's not easy to get there. And yes, I know, there's a Fairway on the Upper West Side, and yes, yes, you can get your fill of industrial landscape more conveniently in Dumbo.

But let me, for one second, try to convince you that a trip to Red Hook is worth the effort, that a $5 Water Taxi ticket is money well spent (or that taking a subway, walking a bit, and then hopping on a Red Hook-bound bus isn't as terrible as it sounds).

Five rewards for your journey:

1.) Amazing waterfront views--some of the best in the city. The Statue of Liberty is practically in your lap.

2.) Valentino Park, small and filled with flowers. It sits directly on the river and offers a multitude of grassy spots perfect for reading or sunning or gazing out at the boats floating by.

3.) The new and enormous Fairway supermarket (controversial gentrification alert: Ikea is set to move into the area next), where you can buy a sandwich big enough to feed two people for $5.95 (I order the Cajun turkey, which is about the size of a shoebox). Behind the supermarket (and on the water) is a breezy dining patio.

4.) The now famous Red Hook Ballfields, where you can score, among other tempting treats, fresh ceviche or a hot chicken tamale. Vendors sell straight-off-the-grill street food from their carts.

5.) Fresh key lime pie. According to Al Roker, Steve Tarpin's tarts are the "last genuine key lime pies in the US!" I'm not sure if I'd go that far, and next time I go, I'm skipping the not-very-good limeade, but for $4, the 4-inch tart is refreshing and share-able.

And there's more... I've been to Red Hook a few times this summer, and every time I go back, I discover something new, or at least new to me. Of course, cobblestone roads and aging warehouses serve as reminders that Red Hook isn't new; in fact, it's one of the oldest neighborhoods in New York. And that's its charm.

Bottom Line: Pack a picnic blanket, pack a book, pack a camera, and go! You won't regret the trip.

Red Hook, Brooklyn
Hopstop it to 480 Van Brunt Street. Take the NY Water Taxi, take the B63 bus from Borough Hall (M/N/R/W/2/3/4/5 lines), or walk from Carroll Street (F/G lines).

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Free Friday Five

Nothing's cheaper than free.
This weekend we bring you...

1. Coney Island Mermaid Parade, Saturday 6/23, 2PM
on Surf Avenue (Coney Island)
Grab some seashells and a fin, and make your way to Coney Island's annual Mermaid Parade, where drill teams and people dressed as various sea creatures will be marching down the beach to celebrate the beginning of the summer season.
Coney Island is staged to undergo a massive rehaul in the coming months, so this could be your last chance to get down and gritty with the mermaid crowd. Plus, there will be live music and burlesque shows.

2. Drive-In Movies at the Rock, Friday 6/22, 9PM
at Rockefeller Center (30 Rockefeller Plaza, at 49th Street)
Tonight's movie, Netherbeast Incorporated, is the last in the Tribeca Drive-In independent film series at the Rockefeller Center. Seating opens at 6PM, and I'm guessing you're going to have to fight through crowds of tourists to land a spot.

3. Gay Pride Parade, Sunday 6/24, 12PM
begins at 5th Avenue and 52nd Street, ends at Christopher and Greenwich Streets
Rainbows! Free love! Drag Queens! If you didn't get your fill of crazy crowds at the Mermaid Parade on Saturday, then don't miss this year's sure-to-be-interesting Gay Pride Parade. Bring a camera.

4. World's First Ever Cheese Eating Contest, Sunday 6/24, 2PM
at Smith & Vine (268 Smith Street, between Sackett & Degraw) Hot dogs have been done. So have cream pies and chicken wings from Hooter's. So the next logical choice for an eating competition? Cheese. Ok; maybe it's not logical, and it probably won't be pretty, but this could be history in the making...

5. Kayaking on the Hudson, weekends through 9/16, 8AM
at Pier 96 (West 56th Street)
Every Saturday and Sunday morning, long before any normal person should be waking up, the New York City Downtown Boathouse offers free guided kayaking tours on the Hudson River. The trip runs 3 hours, and you'll paddle anywhere from 4-5 miles in either a single (1-person) or double (2-person) kayak. Unfortunately, the kayaks fill up fast, so you'll have to arrive by 7:45 at the latest.

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The Concrete Elite

Confession: At one point in my life I was addicted to street pretzels. I was an intern, broke and new to New York City, and there was something about those salty bundles of bread (the price? the novelty?) that I couldn't resist.

It's been a long time since I've treated myself to a $1 pretzel lunch, but sidewalk vendors still tempt me every now and then, and even though it's getting tougher and tougher for them to hawk their goods, there's probably someone near your office (or apartment) selling stellar street food.

New York Magazine just released its "Concrete Elite," a list of of its 20 favorite carts in the city. The infamous Queens arepa lady is slotted in the number one spot, but the other picks span the five boroughs. Forget the pretzels! I'm checking some of these vendors out.

Here's the list:

• THE AREPA LADY, Roosevelt Ave. nr. 78th St., Jackson Heights


• ANTOJITOS MEXICANOS, Roosevelt Ave. nr. 61st St., Woodside


• SAMMY’S HALAL, 73rd St. at Broadway, Jackson Heights


• KHAN’S, 73rd St. at Broadway, Jackson Heights


• TACOS GUICHO, Roosevelt Ave. at Gleane St., Jackson Heights


• HALLO BERLIN, 54th St. nr. Fifth Ave.


• TONY "THE DRAGON" DRAGONAS, 62nd St. nr. Madison Ave.


• CARNEGIE JOHN’S, 56th St. nr. Seventh Ave.


• HUAN JI RICE NOODLES, Grand St. at Bowery


• THE ESQUITES MAN, Fifth Ave. nr. 53rd St., Sunset Park, Brooklyn


• DOGMATIC DOGS, Bleecker Street Park, Bleecker St. at Hudson St.


• THE JAMAICAN DUTCHY, 51st St. nr. Seventh Ave.


• XINJIANG KEBABS, Division St. at Forsyth St.


• KWIK MEAL, 45th St. nr. Sixth Ave.


• CALEXICO, Wooster St. nr. Prince St.


• NY DOSAS, Washington Sq. S. at Sullivan St.


• HALAL CHICKEN AND GYRO, 53rd St. nr. Sixth Ave.


• KIM’S AUNT, 46th St. nr. Sixth Ave.


• ALAN’S FALAFEL, Cedar St. nr. Broadway


• ALL NATURAL HOT MINI CAKES, Grand St. nr. Bowery

Bottom Line: Eat street!

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Craftastic

Yesterday I wore a cotton Gap dress that I got for a steal. It's black and poofy and easy to wear, and I'm guessing you've seen it, because in the past two weeks I've noticed it on approximately 8,000 various women.

I'm exaggerating a little.
But four words that budget-minded shoppers like myself rarely hear? One. Of. A. Kind.

Seriously, we all know there's a direct correlation between the size of a store and the price of its goods (the less you see, the more it's going to cost you), and I generally assume that if something's truly "one of a kind," then it (and its expensive price tag) is meant for investment bankers and socialites with dogs in their purses.

Last weekend, my friends, I beat the system.
I hit Brooklyn's Renegade Craft Fair, and, yes, I made out like a bandit.

The Renegade vendors have long since packed up their homemade t-shirts and handsewn bags and crocheted chopstick holders (it's an annual event), but you can buy most of their goods online. And because I'm still on a post-shopping high, I thought I'd share my [Cheap! Practically ONE OF A KIND!] finds with you.

Clockwise (L-R): Sesame Letterpress coasters ($1 each); Art Star salt & pepper shakers ($18); S. Rankin handmade earrings ($10); Etui printed cards ($3 each); Holly Hue coin purse (free--DIYers rock!); Sesame Letterpress notecards (2 for $1); Tall Glass t-shirt ($10); Holly Hue hobo bag ($28). Center: My Paper Crane Ketchup Loves Mustard notecards (pack of 5 for $5).

Bottom Line: One of a kind never felt so good (and attainable).

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Bryant Park Movies Start Today!

Today marks the first free movie of the 2007 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. Check out Annie Hall, but be prepared to fight the crowds. The lawn opens at 5pm and fills up soon after. The movie starts at dusk. Grab a bottle of wine and some sandwiches (or order from 'wichcraft - they'll even deliver to your spot on the lawn) and don't forget the water...it's hot out there today! Check out the rest of the schedule here.

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Restaurant Week Summer 2007

I have mixed feelings about restaurant week. On one hand, I get very excited when the lists are released and I start racking up reservations. Then, by the time the two weeks arrive, I realize that I end up spending much more than I would spend on dining out otherwise. Regardless, summer 2007 restaurant week is almost here (it runs weekdays from July 16 to July 27) and you can start making reservations (at everywhere except the ones listed at the bottom of this post, which you'll have to call) via opentable.com tomorrow.

There are two schools of thought on restaurant week. Either choose the most expensive spots that you would never be able to afford without your parents or sugar daddy (this year that would be Nobu, Le Cirque, the Carlyle Restaurant, Del Posto, etc.) OR hit up the moderately-priced restaurants (Blue Smoke, Thalia, etc.) in hopes of getting the grand treatment (and the flexibility to afford ordering off the regular menu if you choose).

Just remember that drinks are not included and you have to order off of the (sometimes limiting) special restaurant week menu to get the $24.01 for lunch and $35.00 for dinner deals. And I was surprised to find that many of the restaurants that frequent the restaurant week lists offer prix fixe lunches (and sometimes dinners) that are the same price or less expensive than the restaurant week deals. My experiences so far with restaurant week are as follows (comment with your own recommendations!):

Morimoto: I went during lunch and wasn't very impressed. They offered a standard sushi bento box that I could have gotten anywhere.

One if by Land, Two if by Sea: Delicious and a great chance to try out the romantic, pricey spot.

Artisanal: I ended up ordering off of the normal menu for dinner and spending less (and I got a glass of wine) than the $35 restaurant week menu.

Carlyle Restaurant: My friend tried the restaurant at the Carlyle for dinner during restaurant week last fall and said that this was one of her best dining experiences in New York. I'm going to try it this year.

Kittichai: Great food but no special deal here. I went for lunch and noticed that Kittichai offers a $20 prix fixe lunch every day.

These restaurant week spots don't show up on opentable.com and you'll need to reserve the old fashioned way: 5 Ninth, Arezzo Ristoante, Atlantic Grill, August, Barolo, Ben Benson's Steak House, Bice Ristorante, Black Duck, Blue Fin, Blue Water Grill, Bond 45, Bread Bar, Cafe Fiorello, Capsouto Freres, Carnegie Deli, The Central Park Boathouse, Centrico, Centro Vinoteca, Chin Chin, Dos Caminos (several locations), Duane Park Cafe, Etcetera Etcetera, F .illi Ponte Ristorante, Fiamma, Gabriel's, Gallagher's Steak House, Gigino Trattoria, Gordon Ramsey's Maze, Grotta Azzurra Ristorante, Hatsuhana Sushi Restaurant, Indochine, Isabella's, Mesa Grill, Mr. K's, Nobu, Nougatine at Jean-Georges, Ocean Grill, Palm Westside, Palm Too, Pershing Square, Petrossian, Pigalle, Redeye Grill, Rocking Horse Cafe, Roppongi, Ruby Foo's, Shelly's, Shun Lee Palace, Tavern on the Green, Tratoria Dell'Arte, Trio, Vento Trattoria, ViceVersa, Villa Berulia

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Free Friday Five

Nothing's cheaper than free. This weekend we bring you...

1. Brooklyn's Top Dog Contest, Saturday 6/16, 11AM-3PM
at Brooklyn Industries in Williamsburg (162 Bedford Ave)
NYC pups will be putting their best paws forward at Brooklyn's "Top Dog" competition. Check out photos of each canine contestant and vote here, or go see the dogs yourself, so you can say you knew the winner before he became a star (the top dog/American Idol of hipster pooches will get his photo on a special edition Brooklyn Industries t-shirt).

2. Beer for Bags, Friday 6/15-Sunday 6/17
at either NYC Crumpler Store (45 Spring Street or 49 8th Avenue)
Surely you have a few bottles of beer shoved somewhere in the back of your refrigerator... Why not trade those bottles in for a brand spanking new Crumpler bag?
Check out the store's website to see what type of bag the bottles in your fridge are worth.

3. First Annual NYC Food Festival, Saturday 6/16-Sunday 6/17, see website for schedule
at Water Taxi Beach (Hunter's Point, Long Island City)
Free outdoor screenings of food films ranging from the three-minute long "Tasting Rachel Ray" to the feature-length "Asparagus! A Stalk-Umentary."
The best part? You'll be on a sandy beach. And if you can't bear the thought of seeing Rachel on a big screen, just distract yourself with the amazing view of the Manhattan skyline.

4. Field Day in Cental Park, ongoing, 9AM-7PM
at the Central Park Conservancy
Here's a secret: The Central Park Conservancy loans out something called a "field day kit," and all you have to do to get one is call 212-348-4867. Trust me, there's enough sports equipment in this kit (a basketball, 10 cones, 3 bats, a horse shoe set, a playground ball, a Nerf ball, a football, a Frisbee, 2 handballs, a soccer ball, a jump rope, 2 whiffle balls, and hula hoops) to keep you and every friend you have running around the park for hours. Who needs a gym?

5. Renegade Craft Fair, Saturday 6/16-Sunday 6/17, 11AM-6PM
at McCarren Park Pool (on Lorimer Street in Williamsburg)
In the need for a cool new wallet? How about a stunning pair of gold-plated cicada earrings? Check out Williamsburg's Renegade Craft Fair, where DIYers will be selling their own handmade goods.

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Burrito + Tamale = Love

Actually, burrito + tamale = arepa. (sort of)

My favorite arepa spot in NYC is Caracas Arepa Bar in the East Village. It's tiny but has that exposed brick/oil cloth tablecloths "it" factor that keeps it from seeming too cheap. Check out my review of it for the New York Press.

Bottom Line: A true cheap trick. Classy, cheap, delicious and unexpected.
Two locations: Caracas Arepa Bar, 93 1/2 E. 7th St. (at 1st Ave.), 212.529.2314
Caracas To Go, 91 E. 7th St. (two doors down from above location), 212.228.5062

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Bánh Mì, Oh My

If cheapskates around the world were to unite and form their own penny pinching coalition, they'd adopt the bánh mì as their official sandwich.
It's that cheap.
And it's that good.

A bánh mì (pronounced BAHN MEE in English) is a Vietnamese sub filled with pickled vegetables, grilled meat (pork or chicken and/or pâté), cilantro, mayo, and jalapeños, all sandwiched between two crispy, toasted-to-perfection baguette slices.

I'm not going to wax poetic on the bánh mì's many virtues (J. Slab does a fine job of this on his blog, The Porkchop Express), but I will tell you that for less than $5, a bánh mì will: a) fill you up, b) be delicious, and c) make you very, very happy.

Bottom Line: Vietnamese, please.
This sub's a delicious deal.

Vietnamese sandwich shops are scattered throughout the boroughs. A few to try:

• Bánh Mì Saigon Bakery
  138-01 Mott Street

• Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches
  150 E. 2nd Street
  


• Ba Xuyen
  4222 Eighth Avenue (Brooklyn)
  
  
• Hanco’s Bubble Tea & Vietnamese Sandwich
  85 Bergen Street (Brooklyn)

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Hail to the Fruit Man

Nothing marks the arrival of summer like the appearance of the fruit man. Every few blocks in Manhattan there seems to be a man with a fruit stand. I say fruit man because I have never seen a fruit woman, and it sounds better than fruit person, but to any fruit women out there, sorry. Anyway, fruit men typically sell a variety of produce for much less than supermarkets charge. Not only that, but the fruit is of the same or often better quality. Do not fear the sketchiness of the fruit man. Make him your friend.

Today I compared a fruit man on the Upper East Side with the Food Emporium on the same block. Here is what I found:

Mangoes
Fruit man: three varieties, $1.25 each
Food Emporium: one variety, $2.99 each

Celery
Fruit man: $1 per bunch
Food Emporium: $3.99 per bunch

Driscoll's Strawberries
Fruit man: $2.50 per 16oz box
Food Emporium: $3.99 per 16oz box

Lychee Nuts
Fruit man: four for $1
Food Emporium: no lychee nuts at all

Blackberries
Fruit man: two 6oz boxes for $3 ($2 each)
Food Emporium: $4.99 per 6oz box

Red Seedless Grapes
Fruit man: $2 per pound
Food Emporium: $4.99 per pound

How do they do it? The fruit man had a better selection of mangoes and even carried things like lychee nuts that Food Emporium didn't. When I'm grocery shopping I always check the fruit stands first - you should too!

Bottom Line: Long live the fruit men (and women?) of Manhattan!

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