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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