Monday, June 8, 2009

Low-Roller Fun


One Dollar Plates on Restaurant Row
TONIGHT!

Tonight's annual “Taste of Times Square" offers RecessionGirls and other low-budget New Yorkers the rare opportunity to enjoy gastronomic masterpieces of Times Square's most-acclaimed restaurants....for only $1.00 a plate! Featuring local entertainment on three stages, classic New York street performances and free dancing lessons from Swing46, this outdoor food festival promises more than a delicious dinner!


WHEN: Monday, June 8, 2009 from 5pm-8:30pm

WHERE: West 46th Street between Broadway and Ninth Avenue, including historic Restaurant Row

ADMISSION: Free admission to the festivities

Friday, June 5, 2009

Daily Deal!

It's national Donut Day!

Yes, the rumors are true - the recession will make you fatter. Get a free donut of your choice at any Dunkin Donuts today with the purchase of a drink. Check their site for a location nearest you.
https://www.dunkindonuts.com/

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Low Roller Fun!


Movies? Free? In New York? Yes, Seriously.

As always, Brooklyn Vegan brings something enlightening to RecessionGirl's table (which soon be a picnic blanket under the Brooklyn Bridge) with its exhaustive list of free summer movies throughout the city. For a full listing, check out http://http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/05/mostly_free_out.html#more.

RecessionGirl is most looking forward to Brooklyn Bridge Park's Movies With A View, one of the city's most spectaular outdoor film series nestled right at the feet of the Brooklyn Bridge. DJs from Brooklyn Radio kick off the evening, spinning tunes as the sun sets, while RICE sells delicious dinners onsite. The full summer lineup is:

July 9 Raising Arizona
July 16 The Maltese Falcon
July 23 Paper Moon
July 30 To Catch A Thief
August 6 The Return Of The Pink Panther
August 13 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
August 20 Catch Me If You Can
August 27 Edward Scissorhands

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Daily Deal!

Today at all Au Bon Pain locations ...


Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Low-Roller Fun

It's that time of the month again!
InDigest 1207 Reading Series
Wednesday, June 3


Featuring the literary stylings of:
Angela Ball
Rodrigo Toscano's Collapsible Poetics Theater
Stephen Burt
Giao Buu
6pm doors 7pm reading
Free
Strictly 21+
This is a First-Come, Fully Seated event.

Angela Ball
Angela Ball is professor of English in the Center for Writers at the University of Southern Mississippi and poetry editor for Mississippi Review. She is the author of four previous poetry collections, including The Museum of the Revolution: 58 Exhibits, Possession, and Quartet, as well as two chapbooks. She is the recipient of grants from the Mississippi Arts Commission and the NEA, and is a former poet-in-residence at the University of Richmond. Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, Ploughshares, the New Republic, Poetry, and Best American Poetry 2001, among other publications.

Rodrigo Toscano
Rodrigo Toscano is the author of To Leveling Swerve (2005), Platform (2004), The Disparities (2002) and Partisans (1999). His poetry has appeared in Best American Poetry 2004, War and Peace (2004 & 2007), In the Criminal’s Cabinet: An anthology of poetry and fiction (2004), and in McSweeney’s “Poets Picking Poets.” His polyvocalic pieces, poetics plays, and body-movement poems, and radio pieces have been performed and broadcast widely. His work has been translated into French, German, Italian, and Catalonian. Toscano is originally from Southern California. He works in Manhattan at the Labor Institute, and lives in Brooklyn. His most recent collection, Collapsible Poetics Theater, won the 2008 National Poetry Series award.

Stephen Burt
Stephen Burt is Associate Professor of English at Harvard. He is the author of three collections of poetry, including Parallel Play (Graywolf, 2006); his book of writings on modern and contemporary poetry, Close Calls with Nonsense, was just released through Graywolf Press.

Giao Buu
Giao Buu goes by the name G. because there are too many vowels in his real name. He lives in Tremont with a roommate, a refrigerator, some really fat squirrels, and a box of honey bunches cereal that just won’t die. He works as a humorous greeting card writer/editor at American Greetings, and his best friend is Lucy, a dog of amazing amazingness who he believes is a superhero in her off-time. He has insanely wonderful parents and family who let him quit medical school to write, and baller friends who, well, ball, and who inspire everything he writes. G. likes to run, write, and watch any shows involving animals being awesome. He also loves to eat (bacon especially) and sleep (dreaming of bacon), and other activities that directly help him to live.

http://lepoissonrouge.com/events/view/121

Happy Hour of the Week


Yuca Bar
(East Village 7th St/Ave A)

Any one who knows me, knows that the Yuca Bar is my favorite Sunday funday brunch spot. This week, I discovered there's more to Yuca than sunny sidewalk tables, sangria, and huevos rancheros.

Introducing: Loco Tuesdays!

In addition to it's weekday happy hour deals from 1-8pm, the Cocina Latina offers half-priced tapas until 8 pm on Tuesdays.

So try some Tacos De Pescado for $5 with your happy hour Yucajito today!


(photo by Gavin Thomas)

The Recession: Why we secretly love it.

The Recession is Over! How We Celebrating?

For who knows how long anymore "The Recession" has been our warm ratty security blanket. But "experts" are saying the joyride of sadness is over. Now what?

Jozen (Vibe), Melissa (Opinionistas), and Abiola (BET) advise.
http://gawker.com/5273218/

Monday, June 1, 2009

Free Chocolate!

Who knew chocolate could be politically correct?

Apparently, Mars Snackfood US, maker of M&Ms, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way and other American favorites, does.

The company has launched the equivalent of a filibuster to draw attention to competitors that substitute vegetable oil for cocoa butter in their products.

So, what’s in it for you? One of the biggest chocolate giveaways in history.

Every Friday through the end of September, you stand a chance of getting a free chocolate bar or candy because of the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act.

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2009/05/14/free-chocolate-every-friday-for-months.aspx

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Daily Deal!

Free Mojitos Today!
7pm-9pm
Nonna's Restaurant
520 Columbus Ave (at 85th St)
NY, NY
http://www.nonnarestaurant.com

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Daily Deal!

Today's Groupon: $25 Swedish Massage at GemVie ($62% Off $65 Value)

$25 gets you a $65 Groupon for a Swedish massage at GemVie MediSpa (that’s a 62% savings). Located at 24 East 36th St. in Midtown Manhattan, GemVie is your safe harbor for relaxation and rejuvenation in an increasingly stressful and demanding world. What better way to unwind than with a 30-minute Swedish massage designed to relieve tension and stress? At GemVie, a masseuse will combine long, gliding strokes and hearty kneading to ease soreness, soothe your nerves, and loosen muscles in your entire body. If you already live in a constant state of pure relaxation, today’s Groupon will make a wonderful gift for someone less fortunate than you.

After your rubdown, unwind further in the relaxation room or linger over gourmet coffee or juices on the garden terrace.

Read more: http://groupon.thepoint.com/new-york/

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Lower Roller Fun- Weekend

THE 14TH ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

"Can’t afford to spend your holiday weekend in some exotic clime this year? Nevermind! Laugh at the Depression with us by luxuriating in the Arts instead. Spend your Stay-cation saturating your senses, exercising your funny bone and going for an intellectual joy ride at the still free and more fabulous than ever, LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS. And if you’re a Tourist trapped by Up and Midtown Prices, break free with LES’s Free Breakout Entertainment and culture. It is what the Real New York has always really been about.

Join our literally hundreds of performers as they gather at Theater for the New City to gift you with their time and talent at our 14th Annual LES. As always, we will sing hosannas to the Lower East Side and East Village’s Artistic Past, dig its Present and sneak preview its Artistic Future.

Classical Theater, Yiddish Theater, Vaudeville, Burlesque and the nascent Silent Film Industry all flourished here. George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Yip Harburg, Eddie Cantor, the Adlers, Molly Pican, Charlie Parker, Eugene O’Neill, Garcia Lorca, Mark Twain, the list goes on and on. They all lived and created here at one time. Now, it’s our time to both remember them and continue their tradition by continuing to create."

Friday, May 22rd, 6pm - 1am
Saturday, May 23th, 10am - 1am
Sunday, May 24th, 5pm - 1am

FREE!!! FREE!!! FREE!!!

Visit http://theaterforthenewcity.net/les.htm for a complete schedule of events.


Fulton Stall Market
Date: Friday, May 22nd and Saturday, May 23rd
Time: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Location: Fulton Stall Market (South Street, between Fulton and Beekman Streets)
Cost: Free

A collection of local produce farmers, a Hudson Valley bakery, New York state wineries, plus a Garden State artisan cheesemaker and a fresh fish purveyor, are among the pioneering vendors slated to sell their goods in lower Manhattan when the Fulton Stall Market opens for the season on Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23.
The venture marks the return of an outdoor food market within the historic Seaport
District. Approximately a dozen vendors will occupy the 16 former fish stalls that line South Street between Fulton and Beekman Streets. Open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., the market will enable the public to purchase a wide variety of offerings ranging from seasonal fruits and vegetables, local fish and shellfish, handmade cheeses and organic breads, as well as cut flowers and potted plants. In addition, wines from various New York regions will be featured and available for sampling. Cooking demonstrations by local area chefs are being planned with a focus on pairing local foods with local wines. "New York City residents understand farmers' markets.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Recessionista Guide to a Swinging Summer 2009: Part IV


Habana Outpost, NYC's first and only solar powered restaurant, will continue its outdoor movie screening tradition starting Sunday, May 10th. Movies screen in the outside courtyard every Sunday thru October and start at 8 pm. All movies are NYC-themed and free to the public.

• May 10 - The Warriors
• May 17 - Crooklyn
• May 24 - Coming To America
• May 31 - Krush Groove
• June 7 - Way of the Dragon
• June 14 - Salsa
• June 21 - Saturday Night Fever
• June 28 - Do The Right Thing
• July 5 - Jaws
• July 12 - Scarface
• July 19 - Drunken Master
• July 26 - Friday
• August 2 - Beat Street
• August 9 - Star Wars
• August 16 - School Daze
• August 23 - Purple Rain
• August 30 - See No Evil, Hear No Evil
• September 6 - Moonwalker
• September 13 - The Pest
• September 20 - Kings of New York
• September 27 - City of God
• October 4 - Flash Gordon
• October 11 - The Untouchables
• October 18 - Batman
• October 25 - Chucky: Child's Play

Habana Outpost 757 Fulton Street (corner of South Portland) Brooklyn, NY 11217

Low Roller Fun - Tonight!

Great Evenings in the Great Hall at Cooper Union















Date: Tuesday, May 19th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: The Cooper Union,The Great Hall (7 E 7th St at 3rd Ave)
Cost: Free

Great Evenings in The Great Hall presents “Electoral Politics”—an exciting multi-media event and a rare opportunity for the public to see notable New Yorkers such as author, journalist and political pundit Fred Siegel, CUNY professor Frances Fox Piven along with other well-known actors and writers reenact the powerful words delivered by pioneering politicians on the historic Great Hall stage. A musical performance is also part of the program, which concludes with a montage that includes footage of President Obama’s address, then a Senator of Illinois, from Cooper Union’s Great Hall.

For 150 years, thousands have come to Cooper Union’s Great Hall to protest or promote political change in New York City and across the nation: from Theodore Roosevelt and Fiorello LaGuardia to, more recently, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Reliving some of those momentous times in American politics, Great Evenings in The Great Hall presents “Electoral Politics”—an exciting multi-media event and rare opportunity for the public to see notable New Yorkers such as author, journalist and political pundit Fred Siegel, CUNY professor Frances Fox Piven and other well-known actors and writers reenact portions of these pioneering Great Hall speeches (Tuesday, May 19th at 6:30 PM, Great Hall at The Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street b/w 3rd and 4th Aves.). Whether it is the overthrow of Boss Tweed and the notorious Tammany Hall Gang—or listening to Liz Abzug, daughter of Bella Abzug—a pioneering feminist who mobilized women into American politics, the Great Hall has and continues to be a catalyst for change and can be experienced live in "Electoral Politics." A musical performance and a montage of Great Hall political figures will be integrated throughout the evening’s festivities, concluding with footage of President Obama—then a Senator from Illinois—marking his presidential run for the White House with an illuminating speech in the Great Hall.

Since 1859, the Great Hall has been a preeminent stage for pioneering individuals whose views reshaped society. Each of the eight programs in the “Great Evenings in the Great Hall” year long series will focus on one area of protest, reform, or education to be reenacted by notable New York actors, writers and historians
-from FreeNYC

Monday, May 18, 2009

Cheap Eats

(photo by Celia Chang/Findyourcraving.com)

If you happen to be one of those NYC gals who stores her sweaters in her oven, or you are too busy enjoying all of the free events in the city to cook, fear not. You can still eat well on the cheap.

The New York Times Magazine's Concierge has compiled a thorough list of cheap, but delicious, lunch and dinner options for self-proclaimed foodies.

Her highlights include a $4.25 bowl of pho at Nam Son in Chinatown; $5.25 goat paratha with mint chutney at Lassi in Greenwich Village; $4.25 hand-cut noodles and shrimp dumplings in broth or $4 roast duck with rice at Great New York Noodletown (a BYOB spot).

Be sure to check out the comments section for great meal deals in other boroughs.

We're all in this thing together

Hot in recession: Chocolate, running shoes, Spam
Other big sellers? Condoms, beer and guns. The perfect combo for a cheap & kinky night at home.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090517/ap_on_bi_ge/us_bucking_the_recession

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Yes, we're getting very desperate

Possibly the most genius cheapo beauty trick ever:

For those of you without the patience to watch, here’s the basic idea: Slip your almost-used-up lipglosses with the lids very tightly twisted on into a cup of hot water for several minutes. That's it! It's such a simple trick but it's actually really clever. You see, it makes the gloss that’s on the sides of the tube run down to the bottom where the wand can reach it. And it makes a big difference—one of her glosses that looked almost empty magically appears almost halfway full afterward!

Curb Alert!

How is this stylish and well-kept couch being GIVEN AWAY? Because you have to get it down a 5th floor walkup. Skip that pricey yoga class tonight, and go get it in Chelsea. http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/zip/1170285597.html

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Curb Alert!

This adorable set of dishes all yours for FREE - just pick them up in cobble hill!
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/zip/1168789288.html

Recessionista Guide to a Swinging Summer 2009: Part III

It's finally up! Recessiongirl's been checking the Bryant Park website since mid Jaunary in anticipation of the 2009 summer movie schedule. BP's summer movie series isn't just a free flick, it's a full-on event, complete with a 50 meter dash onto the green, picnic setups with full bars, and a 60 second synchronized group dance. And how perfect is this in recession times? If you're unemployed, you become the friend most in-demand ... having a mate at the park at 5pm on the dot is neccessary if your group wants a decent spot. Bring blankets, games, and plenty of food and drink - movies don't begin until sundown. Our fave pick of the 2009 season? Harold and Maude, on July 20th.



Happy Hour of the Week

If you are looking for a cool glass of pinot grigio (or 2) to get you through the rest of the week, check out this cozy wine bar in the East Village, featuring great deals:
Live Music (no cover) every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Happy Hour, 2 for 1, daily until 8 pm
Mondays, 1/2 price bottles of wine all night long
In addition to the great deals, this wine bar offers chill music, friendly bartenders, and a sofa that gives you an open air view of all of the random happenings on St. Mark's place!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Free Boogies

You're starting to make your own soap like they did in the 1930s, so why not learn to dance like it's the 1930s? It's Dance Week in NYC, which means that two-left-footed partner of yours can no longer use hard economic times as an excuse for not taking those swing lessons you've been dying to try. Check out the website for a complete listing of free classes. Dance week runs thru May 17.


We're all in this thing together

Recession Mass Exodus: From Brooklyn to ... Manhattan??
Real Estate
Manhattan Calling
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
Published: May 10, 2009
Great Recession prices are drawing even the most loyal outer-borough dwellers, from Hoboken to Astoria to the brownstone blocks off Prospect Park, back to Manhattan.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

We're all in this thing together

As I sit at the window in my underwear smoking a cigarette, after yet again another lonely night, I couldn't help but wonder ...
Am I expected to foot half the bill on a first date?
Should I be ordering the house white, god forbid, instead of my usual dry martini?
Have dates to the falafel cart all of the sudden become acceptable?
A few New Yorkers weigh in on how the downturn in the economy has caused a downturn in our dating lives.

Dating in New York, Recession-Style

By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: May 10, 2009

Friday, May 8, 2009

Daily Deal

Today is the last day to snag a great deal on a designer dress.

The Millennium Broadway Hotel is hosting a Designer's Sample Sale. While all sample sales are not necessarily recession-friendly, this one is offering Betsey Johnson (!) evening dresses at $75, day dresses at $50, and sportswear at $35!

Where: 145 W. 44th St., nr. Broadway, sixth floor
212-789-7546.


When: Today! 10-8

RG knows how she will be spending her lunch break today!

Low Roller Fun



Penny Fridays

Date: Friday, May 8th

Time: 9:00pm - 10:00pm

Location: Ellis Bar (627 5th Ave, Park Slope)

Cost: Free!

Park Slope Ellis Bar helps out with the recession special tonight with 1¢ drinks tonight from 9-10. This week its penny tequilas, jackrabbits (?) and vodka shots. 21+





Date: Friday, May 8th
Time: 11:00pm
Location: Studio B (259 Banker Street between Calyer & Meserole)
Cost: Free with RSVP; $5 at the door
Open Bar: 2 for 1 well drinks and domestic beers 11:00pm - 12:00am

Usually the party Fixed has a price tag attached to it, but tonight they are opening up there doors for free! (Be sure to with RSVP though!) The line up features JG Wilkes (Optimo- Glasgow), and Tanlines (NYC- members of Professor Murder) Live, plus residents JDH & Dave P. And to wash away your thirst 2 for 1 well drinks and domestic beers from 11pm to midnight!
For more information, visit http://www.freenyc.net

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Recessionista Guide to a Swingin' Summer 2009: Part II

2009 Celebrate Brooklyn Schedule (Free Shows at Prospect Park Bandshell)

Monday, June 8 @ 8:00 P.M. David Byrne
Thursday, June 11 @ 7:30 P.M. Goran Bregovic & His Weddings
Friday, June 19 @ 7:30 P.M. David Rudder & Samantha Thornhill
Saturday, June 20 @ 7:30 P.M. La Nave De Los Monstruos
Thursday, June 25 @ 7:00 P.M. Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Friday, June 26 @ 7:30 P.M. Blonde Redhead



Saturday, June 27 @ 7:00 P.M. Dr. Dog & These United States
Thursday, July 2 @ 7:00 P.M. Obie Juan Bermudez & Cucu Diamantes
Thursday, July 9 @ 8:00 P.M. Dance STREB: Invisible Forces
Friday, July 10 @ 7:30 P.M. Los Amigos Invisibles & Aterciopelados
Saturday, July @ 11, 4:00 P.M. They Might Be Giants








Thursday, July @ 16, 7:30 P.M. Kronos Quartet & Luminescent Orchestrii
Friday, July 17 @ 7:30 P.M. The Robert Cray Band & The Sweet Divines
Saturday, July 18 @ 2:00 P.M. King Sunny Ade & Freshly Ground
Thursday, July 23 @ 8:00 P.M. Dance Stephen Petronio Company
Friday, July 24 @ 7:30 P.M. Buckwheat Zydeco & The Holmes Brothers
Saturday, July 25 @ 7:30 P.M. Kailash Kher & Electro Morocco
Thursday, July 30 @ 7:30 P.M. Burning Spear & Naomi Shelton
Friday, July 31 @ 7:00 P.M. John Scofield & Christian Scott & Ivan
Saturday, August 1 @ 7:30 P.M. Dean And Britta & Crystal Stilts
Thursday, August 6 @ 7:30 P.M. EscortFriday, August 7 @7:00 P.M. Grace Potter And The Nocturnals & Deer Tick
Saturday, August 8 @ 7:00 P.M. Big Daddy Kane

Low Roller Fun - Tonight!

Indigest 1207 Reading Series

Date: Wednesday, May 6th
Time: 7:00pm (6:00pm doors)
Location: Le Poisson Rouge, Gallery (158 Bleeker St.)
Cost: Free
At their monthly reading series, online literary magazine InDigest takes it's mission of creating a dialogue between and about the arts of the screen and into the bar. The series step apart from other readings in it's efforts to bring in musicians, artists, fiction and poetry into a literary cabaret where authors read their own work as well as the work of other influential authors. With drink specials, great readings, and a free party following every reading. Tonight's edition features Jennifer Knox. Bio below. 21+

Jennifer L. Knox was born in Lancaster, California—once crystal meth capitolof the nation, and home to Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Space Shuttle. She received her BA from the University of Iowa, and her MFA in poetry writing from New York University. She has taught poetry writing at Hunter College and New York University. Her books Drunk by Noon and A Gringo Like Me are both available fromthe Möthershipp that is Bloof Books. Her poems have appeared in Best American Poetry 1997, 2003 and 2006, Best American Erotic Poems, Great American Prose Poems: From Poet to Present, and Free Radicals: American Poets Before Their First Books.

Daily Deal

FREE DRINK TONIGHT
at Hundson Terrace


Don't let the rain put a damper on your alcoholic tenancies. Send your name to info@hudsonterracenyc.com and you'll be treated to a free drink when you swing by Hudson Terrace tonight.
-from NYC daily deals

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Low Roller Fun

FREE SPA DAY TODAY!
Date: Tuesday, May 5th
Time: 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Vada Spa (387 6th Avenue)
Cost: Free
"Ready to fall in love with a new spa? Come to SpaSally’s free spa party on Cinco de Mayo anytime between 12pm and 7pm and get free spa services. Yep, free, but only for one day. Choose one of the following free Laser Hair Removal for the Lip, Chin or Underarms, free Eyebrow or Lip wax Organic Pomegranate Martini Face Mask or Organic Strawberry Coconut Mask, free Mini Acupuncture, free Margarita Foot Scrub (Coconut/Lime or Papaya/Mango). During the spa party, all gift certificates are 30% off. And you also get 30% off any treatments you book during the party. (You don't have to get the treatment right then, just book it.) Free gift bag for the first 200 guests. No appointment necessary, just drop by."
-from free nyc

Bushwick Book Club Tonight!
Date: Tuesday May 5
Time: 8pm
Location: Goodbye Blue Monday [1087 Broadway, Brooklyn]
Cost: Free
Tonight the Bushwick Book Club returns with Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. There will be food and drink inspired by the book, as well as songs from a handful of performers, including Corn Mo.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Free Pizza!

Snapple is giving away 500 free slices to the first people who show up at the designated pizzeria of the day, beginning at 10:30 am.
Here are the spots for the 1st three days:
Monday
Spinelli Pizza
425 Seventh Avenue(between 33rd and 34th streets)
Tuesday
Famous Joe's Pizza
7 Carmine Street(between Bleecker Street and 6th Avenue)
Wednesday
Silver Spoon Diner
58-21 Junction Boulevard

Friday, May 1, 2009

Swap yer stuff!

Saver's Swap, TODAY May 1, 3-6pm
One Saver's Junk is Another Saver's Treasure! It's true. Let's help people save their money AND the environment at the same time! We are helping reduce wasteful spending as well as waste in our world. Now that we have people in the café saving their money, let's help them grow those bills with an Orange Savings Account!

We're hosting a swap meet where consumers have an outlet to exchange their goods (i.e. electronics, apparel, books, costume jewelry & small home goods) for those of others, FREE OF CHARGE. No furniture or lingerie/undergarments allowed. Savers will also have the chance to leave left over items with ING DIRECT for donation to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
Friday // 3 to 6 p.m. // ING DIRECT Café [968 3rd Ave]

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Daily Deals

If you're one of the few who can't understand the growing fro-yo phenomenon, here's your chance to get the "scoop" risk-free. Get a free cup of Red Mango's new frozen yogurt flavor Tagnomonium this Sat from 12pm-4pm. Click on this coupon to print it out.

Low Roller Fun - Tonight!

Trade a canned good for free tapas, cupcakes, and cheap drinks!

Daily Deal

31 Cent Scoop Day At Baskin Robbins
Tonight from 5PM - 10PM, Baskin Robbins will be serving up scoops of ice cream for 31 cents each. All proceeds benefit the National Volunteer Fire Council. Click here to find Baskin Robbins store locations near you. - from NYCdailydeals

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Recessionista Guide to a Swingin' Summer in NYC: Part I

Summer has arrived! Ok maybe not, but this past weekend found us in cut-offs in the park, obsessively planning our summer calenders. Luckily, New Yorkers have been enjoying a chock-full schedule of free summer events since long before the recession, and Recession Girl is here to make sure that being broke doesn’t keep you from even one second of fun. From concerts to movies under the stars, check here periodically as we update the blog with all these great events as soon as the schedules are out.

Brooklyn Bridge Movies with a View
Brooklyn Bridge Park's Movies With A View returns for its 10th Anniversary Season on Thursday, July 9, 2009. This summer, sidle up, nab a patch of grass and walk off with a night of fabulous entertainment without paying one red cent. Come down to the park to enjoy one of the city's premiere outdoor film series with an eclectic line-up of films and breathtaking views of the NYC waterfront. The films are chosen by an all-volunteer Film Committee and each feature is preceded by a short film. DJs from Brooklyn Radio kick off the evening, spinning tunes as the sun sets, while RICE sells delicious dinners onsite. Complimentary bike valet provided by the fine folks at Transportation Alternatives.

Thursday, July 9
Feature Film: Raising Arizona
Short: Ami Underground directed by D.W. Young
DJ: DJ DRM


Thursday, July
Feature Film: The Maltese Falcon
Short: Under the Rollercoaster directed by Lila Place
DJ: MonkOne


Thursday, July 23
Feature Film: Paper Moon
Short: The Coffee Bird directed by Bryan Brinkman
DJ: Tim "Love" Lee


Thursday, July 30
Feature Film: To Catch A Thief
Short: Icebox Blues directed by Jesse Ash
DJ: DJ Ayres


Thursday, August 6
Feature Film: The Return Of The Pink Panther (1975)
Short: It's Good to Be Green directed by Michael Garvey
DJ: Soulstatic


Thursday, August 13
Feature Film: Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Short: Birdman of Brooklyn directed by JL Aronson
DJ: Nick Name


Thursday, August 20
Feature Film: Catch Me If You Can
Short: 6 a.m. directed by Carmen Vidal
DJ: DJ Emch


Thursday, August 27
Feature Film: Edward Scissorhands
Short: I Am Not Obsessed directed by Imani Dean
DJ: Oneman


Central Park Summerstage
While a few of these are benefit concerts and not free, not having the cash to make it happen doesn’t mean you should skip the show. Grab a blanket and a bottle of wine, and enjoy the sounds of your favorite artists from the lawn right outside the stage.
05/31/09 Reality Shock, Yaakov Chesed + more TBA (Salute To Israel) FREE
06/05/09 TV on the Radio, Dirty Projectors (Buy Tickets/Sold Out)
06/12/09 The New York Pops, with Josh Ritter FREE
06/13/09 Tye Tribbett & G.A. (Speculative) FREE
06/16/09 Indigo Girls, Matt Nathanson (Buy Tickets 03/27 @ noon)
06/17/09 Wally Lamb (Reading from “The Hour I First Believed”) FREE
06/20/09 The Sound Physician, SXNDRGS (Speculative) FREE
06/21/09 Fête de la Musique, (World Music Day) with Yannick Noah FREE
o6/25/09 311, Ziggy Marley (Presale: 04/14, Public Sale: 04/17)
06/28/09 Ledisi06/30/09 Explosions In The Sky (Buy Tickets)
07/05/09 Oumou Sangare, Les Nubians FREE
07/08/09 Juana Molina FREE
07/09/09 Matisyahu, Umphrey’s McGee (Presale: April 15-17, Password = LIGHT, Public Sale: April 17 - noon EST)
07/18/09 Dobet Gnahore FREE
07/24/09 Bettye Lavette FREE
08/01/09 M. Ward FREE
08/14/09 Morphoses (Dance) FREE
08/15/09 Morphoses (Dance) FREE
08/16/09 Ineptie (Speculative) FREE
08/29/09 Paul Van Dyk (Buy Tickets)

Silver Lining

Looking for a silver lining to the recession, check out "Five Reasons To Love the Recession" in The Huffington Post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicole-williams/five-reasons-to-love-the_b_191820.html.

Daily Deals

Free Chocolate Kisses!
From noon to 3pm today all three Jacques Torres Chocolate locations will be giving away chocolate champagne kisses for free. They are preparing 10,000 pieces for the occasion. Locations are listed below.














350 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 414-2462


66 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 875-9772


285 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10023
(212) 787-3256

-from NYC Daily Deals


Free Drinks!
Try before you buy—the brand new Spring cocktail menu will served for free at Pranna (79 Madison Avenue, http://www.prannanyc.com/) restaurant tonight from 7-8 p.m., and then again from 10-11 p.m. Complimentary bar snacks, all inspired by street food encountered by chef Chai Trivedi’s motorbike tour through Southeast Asia, will also be served.

Recessionista Swindle of the Day


How To Lower Your Rent
Three ways to negotiate a bargain.
By Cristina Velocci
- from Time Out New York


Strategy: Use your pay cut to your advantage.“People’s situations have changed. The rental market has changed, and landlords and management companies know it has,” says Beau Nova, a senior associate broker at Corcoran, who recommends honesty as the best policy. “If you’re making less money but you’re still working and paying your rent on time, the landlord may actually [lower your rent] because they’d rather not have you leave or default.” Dan Rosenthal was laid off last November, and when he couldn’t find someone to sublet his Garment District studio, he decided to come clean. The minute he fessed up, his landlord offered to knock $200 off per month. “I knew I was coming from a position of power because she needs somebody to pay the rent,” he says. “She didn’t want to lose me as a tenant.” However, depending on the type of building you live in, this approach could backfire. “Keep in mind,” Nova cautions, “depending on how much less you make, you may not even qualify for that apartment anymore.”


Strategy: Extend your lease­—early.While you might not have as much negotiating power if you’re in the middle of a lease, you have more of an edge as you get closer to its end. “A lease is a binding contract, and the landlord has no reason to renegotiate,” says an Upper West Side landlord with 39 years’ experience and more than 250 tenants (who’s asked to remain anonymous lest all his own tenants start haggling). But make the call about two months before the lease ends and you could schmooze your way into a lower rate in exchange for a year or two’s extension. “Most landlords are amenable in this market to longer leases, because it lets them keep tenants they have a relationship with,” he says. Just be sure not to wait until the last minute. Give enough notice to show “that you’re looking to do this from a point of mutual respect” and not trying to pull a fast one.


Strategy: Play the economy card and just ask—many landlords now expect it.When it was time for Jen Winter, 24, to renew the lease on her “teeny tiny little studio” on the Upper West Side, she received a letter from her management company that opened the door to negotiation. “My rent didn’t increase but it didn’t decrease, which I was hoping it would, and it said something along the lines of, ‘If this doesn’t meet your needs, feel free to contact the leasing agent to discuss it,’?” she says. “I think they were prepared for everyone that they’re dealing with to try and negotiate.” Winter made the call, arguing that since rental rates have decreased, she could easily find a similar apartment for less—and had $100 per month knocked off with no push back. Although she’s happy to have received a discount at all, she would’ve liked a steeper one. “I wish I did more market research and made more comparisons,” she says. For those of you contemplating this strategy—even if it’s not so helpfully offered by your own management company—try sites like PadMapper and MyApartmentMap to see what similar apartments in your neighborhood are renting for.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Free Food (and Drink)!

Free Wine!
After two decades on the Upper East side, Charlie Palmer’s restaurant Aureole (34 E 61st St) is moving in May to a new location at the Bank of America Tower at Bryant Park. To go out with a bang, the restaurant is offering a complimentary bottle of wine for every two diners who order the three course prix fixe dinner. The deal lasts through the end of May and is offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
-from gothamist
Free Hummus, Salad, or Dessert!
Today or tomorrow, Hummus Kitchen (multiple Manahttan locations) is giving away free food to everyone who is their friend on Facebook. Patrons can choose from hummus, falafel, bureka, salad, tahini and more! Check out their Facebook page for the details.
-from NYC dailydeals

Monday, April 27, 2009

We're all in this thing together.

The Money Diet: How much can you afford to lose?
How Much Less Can You Spend?
By Barbara Kiviat Sunday, Mar. 29, 2009

Low (and Cultured) Roller Fun!

First, Get Your Culture On....
The Broadway revival of August Wilson's masterpiece Joe Turner's Come and Gone has racked up rave reviews, with The Times's Ben Brantley calling it "positively airborne." Tonight African-American scholar Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will moderate a symposium exploring "the literary, political and topical changes in the African American experience from 1911, the year in which Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is set, to the present day." Times op-ed columnist Bob Herbert, award winning author John Edgar Wideman and critically acclaimed playwright Tracey Scott Wilson are expected to take part in what's sure to be an incisive (and free!) discussion.
Time : 7 p.m.
Location: Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 W 65th St
Cost: FREE!

Later, Get Your Beer and Ping Pong On!
Who doesn't love a little ping pong to start of the work week? The Bell House will have 4 tables set up for tournament style ping pong in their performance space. First come first serve for sign ups. The winner of this nights tournament will be flown to Vegas on Bud Light's dime to participate in the nationals and a chance to win $100,000 dollars. On top of that happy hour deal, aluminum pints of Bud & Bud Light will be $3 for the entire evening. So basically, everyone's a winner!
Time: 8 p.m. onwards
Location: The Bell House, 149 7th St, Gowanus, Brooklyn
Cost: FREE!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Dirt Cheap Brooklyn Eats!


Gastronomy Studies the Relationship Between Culture and Food.....RecessionGirl studies the relationship between Brooklyn and Food.

Two more marvelously cheap and delicious options near downtown Brooklyn:

Joya Restaurant, 215 Court St, Brooklyn. After enjoying a most fantastic Thai dinner for two, RecessionGirl was tickled at a $20.00 bill. In New York? A $20 dinner? Only at Joya, Cobble Hill's neighborhood Thai restaurant. Rumor has it that the noodles are Joya's specialty.

Govinda's Lunch Club at Radha Govinda Hare Krishna Temple, 305 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn. Enjoy a dirt cheap vegetarian lunch in a sattvic ("mode of goodness") environment. Govinda modifies her menu each day but always prepares the best of Indian and continental style cuisine. Call (718) 855-6714 for the daily menu. Lunch served every Monday through Friday from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Curb Alert!

Free Trees!
Soon to be orphaned trees need loving adoptive home. Very healthy and much-loved Kentia palm (6 feet tall) and Banana tree (9 feet tall) are yours for the taking.


Low Roller Fun- Earth Day!

FREE EARTH DAY CONCERTS - GRAND CENTRAL STATION
In honor of preserving the earth we live on, and raising awareness of what citizens can do to improve the conditions of the earth, there will be booths with info and inspiring music through out the day. This Friday AND Saturday, EARTH FAIR features the following performances:
Friday:
12:20 -12:50 The Subliminals
1:10- 2:00 Gandalf Murphy
BREAK (Noise Ordinance) 2p-5p
5:00-5:30 Spiritchild and Mental Notes
5:45-6:30 Dar Williams
6:45-7:15 Maya Azucena
Saturday
Noon The Earthman Experience
1pm Pink Noise
1:45 TK Wonder
2:30 MetroSonics
3:15 Chris Barron & The Bandits
4:15 Judah Tribe

Low Roller Fun - Weekend

Friday
Why Leave Astoria? Bohemian Beer Garden Birthday Bash
Date: Friday, April 24th

Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden (29-19 24th Ave., Astoria)
Cost: Free
Open Bar: 3 kegs til kicked
It's so gorgeous of a day, even those of you not hailing from Queens may be enticed to make the trip east for the opening of the classic Astoria outdoor hangout, the Bohemian Beer Garden.
Whyleaveastoria.com celebrates their first birthday today along with Rizzo's Pizza (their 50th). In honor of the occasion, they will be slinging back free beers (three kegs worth) and giving away all the free pizza you can eat at Astoria's awesome Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden. More info here.
-from freenyc
Cheap Laughs (and baked goods, too!)
Head to Karma Lounge TONIGHT to check out some of the city's best young comedians and you may find yourself snorting free cookies out your nose.
New Young Comedians @ Karma Lounge
Friday April 24
8 - 10 pm
Karma Lounge
51 1st Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 677-3160
$5 Cover. No Drink Min.
Sunday
BIKE RIDE & ART
The Queens Museum of Art wraps up its big Queens International biennial Sunday, which "addresses the relationship between 'internationalism' and 'multiculturalism' from a local standpoint." Judging by the work displayed on the museum's website, it looks quite compelling, but for some of us, the thought taking the subway to Flushing-Meadows on a beautiful Sunday is a deal breaker. Here's City Reliquary to the rescue: they're leading "a fun, free, and leisurely bicycle ride" from their Williamsburg museum to the one in Queens. The 6.5 mile Museum2Museum ride will roll from the City Reliquary through Billyburg, Long Island City, Elmhurst, Corona, and finally the promised land of Flushing-Meadows Corona Park.
Time: Sunday 2 p.m.
Location: The City Reliquary [370 Metropolitan Ave]
Cost: Free, but QMA has a suggested donation of $5

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Take your parents to the bar - TONIGHT!

Take Your Parents to the Bar Day
Date: Thursday, April 23rd
Time: Happy Hour
Location: SideBAR (118 East 15th Street)
Cost: Free
They birthed you, burped you, and wiped your ass. Now repay them by letting them hang out and drink with you. SideBAR is introducing a new tradition: Take Your Parents to the Bar Day. Anyone who brings their parents out will receive their first round free!!

Okay, okay, so SideBAR is not recessiongirl's favorite bar (except when she gets in one of those pick-up-a-douchie-banker-type mood, which she will admit, happens occasionally), but it's a recession, y'all! Let's put on a happy face, grab someone else's parents off the sidewalk if you need to, and go get those freebies.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Free Ben & Jerry's Day Today!

Free Sundae Alert!
Jerry Greenfield (of Ben & Jerry) and Julius Walls (CEO of Greyston Bakery) are in town doing a campus tour of NYU and Columbia to talk to tomorrow's business leaders about social entrepreneurship. The Greyston Foundation donates all profits to local charities, including community gardens, affordable housing, job training and childcare programs. Which is all terrific! But let's talk about the sundaes: The idealistic duo will be serving free ice cream and brownie sundaes at the Whole Foods Tribeca TODAY from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., and then from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Whole Foods Bowery. Later they'll visit the campuses to inspire business students to start socially responsible companies that, hopefully, also give out free ice cream.
-from gothamist

Low Roller Jazzy Fun



10th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival at BAM Cafe


BAM Cafe features free live music every Friday and Saturday night, offering tastes of rock, jazz, R&B, world music, pop, and other genres born in Brooklyn and beyond. This Friday and Saturday night, in celebration of 10 years of BAMcafé Live and as part of the 10th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival, the Cafe will host two Brooklyn-based bands emerging into the jazz world here and beyond. BAMcafé is located at 30 Lafayette Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

The Renegade Band
Fri, Apr 24 at 9pm, Bar opens at 8pm
After 25 years, Brooklyn-based The Renegade Band has perfected their groove, combining R&B reggae with Calypso jazz, saturating the sounds with their personal Caribbean flavor and sharing the message of global pride, unity, and respect through the universal language of music.

The New Cookers
Sat, Apr 25 at 9pm, Bar opens at 8pm
A swinging hard bop jazz quintet—born out of the tradition of the late, great jazz genius Freddie Hubbard—The New Cookers are known for their driving rhythms and engaging performances, celebrating the original Brooklyn jazz music makers and adding their own sound to that rich legacy.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Low Roller Fun

Meet the Filmmakers series
Presented free by Apple and indieWire
Apple Store, 103 Prince Street

To celebrate the spirit of independent film, Apple and indieWire are hosting dozens of free filmmaking events from April 22 to May 3, including a Meet the Filmmaker series. Each night of the festival a different filmmaker (or group of filmmakers) will give a talk, possibly lead a discussion, at the Apple Store’s cozy theatre located at 103 Prince Street. Below are a few features that particularly interested Recession Girl but check out the website for a full listing and other information about free events. Word on the street is that you should show up early.

Spike Lee The Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actor, writer, director, and producer speaks to us about Passing Strange, which brings the hit Broadway rock musical to the screen, and Kobe Doin’ Work, his documentary about Kobe Bryant. Both films screen at Tribeca. Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 p.m.


Natalie Portman Natalie Portman joins CEO Christine Aylward on the stage of the Apple Store, SoHo, to discuss their new web project — MakingOf — a site that promises to transform the way people view, enjoy, and participate in entertainment. Friday, April 24, 3:30 p.m.




Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, and Carlos Cuarón Reuniting with his collaborators in Y Tu Mamá También, Cuarón wrote and directed Rudo y Cursi. The director’s first full-length film stars Bernal and Luna as brothers whose desire to excel as professional soccer players often finds them battling one another on and off the field. Monday, April 27, 5:00 p.m.



Eric Bana The actor (Black Hawk Down, Munich, The Other Boleyn Girl) makes his directorial debut in Love the Beast. The Tribeca documentary selection tells the story of Bana’s 25-year love affair with “the beast,” his Ford GT Falcon Coupe. It premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 29. Tuesday, April 28, 6:30 p.m.