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

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.

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.

http://www.charliepalmer.com/Properties/Aureole/NY/

-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

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

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1887670,00.html?iid=perma_share

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!

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.

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.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/zip/1138044917.html

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

More Info: http://earthdayny.org/

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.

http://newyoungcomedians.com/

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

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.

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.

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.

We're All In This Thing Together

You think you've fallen on hard times?

We have thing or two about hard times from Cadillac Man

Cadillac Man has been homeless on the streets of New York City for the past 16 years. Over that time he has recorded facts of his daily life in notebooks —those notebooks have been distilled into a memoir, Land of the Lost Souls. We’ll also be joined by Will Blythe an editor at Esquire who first published Cadillac Man’s writings. Cadillac Man will be reading, and Will Blythe will be introducing him at Housing Works Bookstore on Wednesday, April 22.

Date: Wednesday, April 22

Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Housing Works Bookstore, 126 Crosby Street
Cost: FREE!

Speaking of hard times and picking up the pieces, Housing Works is a non-profit fighting the twin crisises of HIV/AIDS and homelessness. It also operates a number of fantastic businesses, including an online auction and Recession Girl's favorite thrift stores in the city. These seven upscale thrift boutiques sell high-end vintage clothing, furniture and other treasures to bargain hunters and fashionistas alike....all at Recession Girl prices. A pioneer in Social Enterprise, Housing Works funds invaluable community and social justice work with these profits, including housing, harm reduction, health, case management and legal services for individuals living with HIV and AIDS. Check out the organization's website at http://www.housingworks.org/ for information and addresses but in the meantime, here's a taste of the items up for auction this week out of HW's Chelsea location:

Recession Relocation

When it's time to move, get to moving.

While you may be wary of moving during these shaky economic times, now might be the right the time to snag a deal on an apartment in a neighborhood you didn't think you could afford.

The current recession is greatly affecting the NYC rental market. Many landlords are waiving or paying broker's fees and are even lowering rents to fill their apartments. One recession girl just signed a lease on an apartment in the East Village where the landlord paid the bulk of the broker's fee, and agreed to charge $250 less a month in rent than he was charging the current tenant.

If you are thinking about moving, check out this article: "Finding an Apartment in Manhattan During This Recession Has Never Been Easier" at http://www.prlog.org/10213982-finding-an-apartment-in-manhattan-during-this-recession-has-never-been-easier.html. It gives advice on finding a no-fee apartment rental and money-saving tips for apartment searching.

Once you find your new "steal" of an apartment (quotations added because it is still NYC, people), the fun stuff begins.

As RG introduced last week, the Brooklyn Flea has arrived! It has a plethora of fabulous goods for sale ranging from tasty cheese to antique furniture.

On opening day, RG fell in love with a pair of antique chairs that would be just perfect in her new apartment.

And thanks to her recession-minded best friend, we decided to forego the added expense of delivery, and carry them ourselves to her apartment. While we may have needed to rest on the chairs every couple of blocks or so, we saved the money of a cab or a delivery van and got a great workout!

And everyone passing us on the street assured us that they were worth the effort.

Iced Coffee Day!

Tomorrow is Iced Coffee Day at Dunkin Donuts - 16 oz coffee for 50 cents all day! Ahhh, it's the little things isn't it?

Happy Hour of the Week

If you're a hankering for a fancy drink but can't stomach the pretentious crowd, obnoxious neighborhood and prohibitive prices of the Gansevoort (and the like), you will probably find happiness at KeyBar, a Ukranian-themed hideout in the East Village. With 2 for 1 drinks EVERY DAY until 10, tasty martinis including passion fruit and lychee (that are good and strong), and $2.50 shots (must try: the Rolo - made from the candy!) this place goes above and beyond out notion of happy hour. Come here after work, or later in the night - a small but cozy space hosts the work of local artists and DJs spin euro beats post 11pm. A great place to host a party as well- the staff will reserve space for your group at no cost.

KeyBar

(866) 918-4535
432 E 13th St (at Between 1st Avenue and Avenue A)

New York, NY 10009

www.keybar.com

Low Roller Fun

Human Rights Film Festival
Where: Columbia University's Teachers College, 122nd St and Amsterdam Avenue
When: All this week
Cost: Free Human Dignity in Diversity: Celebrating Human Rights: Film Festival
On behalf of the Society for International Education, the Association of Latin American Students, and the African Studies Working Group at Teachers College, we cordially invite you to:
"Human Dignity in Diversity: Celebrating Human Rights"Film Festival







Featuring:
China's Stolen Children - Monday, April 20, 7:00 pm, 305 Russell Hall
http://www.hbo.com/docs/docuseries/chinasstolenchildren/index.html
Crossing Arizona - Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 pm, 179 Grace Dodge Hall
http://www.crossingaz.com/
Enemies of Happiness - Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 pm, 305 Russell Hall
http://www.enemiesofhappiness.com/
Arna's Children - Thursday, April 23, 7:00 pm, 306 Russell Hall
http://www.arna.info/Arna/
War Dance - Friday, April 24, 7:00 pm, 306 Russell Hall
http://www.wardancethemovie.com/
All screenings will be held at Teachers College and are free and open to the public.

Recessionista Swindle of the Day

As soon as it's warm enough for a spring jacket, young new yorkers begin their daydreams of warm summer nights, moving their bodies to the sounds of incredible musicians in city parks. That's part of why we live here, after all. Unfortunately, Central and Prospect Parks have to hold "benefit" concerts as the season begins to raise money for all those freebie gigs. Just too broke to pay to see some of your fave bands? Fret not. Grab your buds, a blanket, and some wine and partake in the oldest of city park pastimes - picnic. Arrive early to snag a spot right outside the gates and dance the night away free from the crowds. You may not be able to see the stage, but no one can complain "We paid to listen to the band, not you!" when you belt out your favorite lyrics! (what, that doesn't happen to you??)

Central Park Summerstage
http://www.summerstage.org/index1.aspx?BD=20575
TV on the Radio/Dirty Projectors
Friday June 5
6:30-10pm

Indigo Girls/Matt Nathanson
Tuesday, June 16
4:30-10pm

311/Ziggy Marley/The Expendables
Thursday, June 25
6-10pm

Expolsions in the Sky
Tuesday, June 30
5:30-10pm

Celebrate Brooklyn! At Prospect Park Bandshell
http://www.briconline.org/celebrate/benefits.asp
Jackson Brown
July 21
5:30 pm

MGMT
July 31
Doors at 5:30

Animal Collective
August 14th and 15th
5:30 pm

Are we all in this together??

The Neighborhoods Of Post-Recession New York
By Hamilton Nolan
If NYC residents could hope for anything good to come out of this economic crisis, it would be this: the rollback of gentrification.

Low Roller Fun

OUR HOUSE - Ushering spots open soon!

Playwrights Horizons will begin accepting ushers for its new comedy OUR HOUSE in a week. If you are interested in one of the spots (two needed nightly) email MMenter@playwrightshorizons.org NOW to express interest - spots are coveted and after the intial assignment prospective ushers will be placed on a wait list.

May 15 - June 21, 2009 Mainstage Theater, Playwrights Horizons

The New York Premiere of a new play by Theresa Rebeck

FeaturingMorena Baccarin • Katie Kreisler Stephen Kunken • Mandy Siegfried • Jeremy Strong Haynes Thigpen • Christopher Evan Welc

It’s reality. Why shouldn’t it be news? A cocksure TV bigshot faced with dwindling ratings installs America’s favorite news anchor as host of a popular reality show. Meanwhile in Middle America, a houseful of roommates bicker over high-stakes real-world conflicts: Merv doesn’t clean the bathroom. Someone ate Alice’s yogurt. And the rent is long past due. Soon, as reality collides with reality TV, a sobering drama becomes sexy entertainment, and we're eyewitness to a crisis that holds the nation riveted.

http://www.playwrightshorizons.com/mainstage.asp

Low Roller Fun

Recession Art Inagural Show

Just because you're broke doesn't mean your walls have to be bare.

The multimedia Recession Art Show showcases paintings, needlepoint and more. The opening reception includes a live set by Brooklyn Band Acrylics.

Where: Brooklyn Artists Gym, 3rd floor, Gowanus, Bklyn

When: From Fri April 17-23. Opening reception, Sat April 18, 6pm

FREE

Brooklyn Flea Opens This Weekend

With hundreds of vendors, many new this year (and different at each location), both fleas are worth checking out. But beware of the "flea" name - this is not your midwestern grandmothers junk market. With 600 applicants for 200 spots, an actual curator selects the cream of the flea crop, which includes antique furniture priced in the Ks. What's a recession girl to do? Bargain, of course! And not to fear, there will be plenty of affordale options, as well as loads of inspiration for those summer DIY projects!

Secondhand Steals

ThriftyGirl of the Week: Randi
Bisou Jeans Vest: $5
Leather Boots: $12
Discovered at:
Valley Restoration Development Corp
949 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10025
(212) 222-2600

Are you our next thriftygirlnyc? Send in photos of your sweet secondhand duds, along with where and for how much you got them, to recessiongirlnyc@gmail.com

BAM Cafe Live (and Free)

Experience what the Village Voice calls an "ingenious musical evolution" this Saturday night at the BAM Cafe! Employing new music techniques and addressing community and cultural issues, blaKbüshe's progressive musicality and messaging has earned them fans in Brooklyn and beyond, while their provocative lyrics have made them one of today's most exciting urban groups. Bandleader, vocalist, songwriter, and bassist Shelley Nicole describes blaKbüshe's music as solaroc, a distinctive combination of rock, funk, and soul.
When: Sat, Apr 18 at 9pm (Bar opens at 8pm)
Where: 30 Lafayette Avenue (at Ashland Place), Brooklyn

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We're all in this thing together.

Is the recession making you hot? You're not the only one.

Recession Fuels Readers’ Escapist Urges
By MOTOKO RICH
Published: April 8, 2009
At a time when booksellers are struggling to lure readers, strong sales of romance novels buoy a sluggish market.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/books/08roma.html

Free Stuff Swap

Spring Cleaning? Don't Throw It Away—Bring it to the Freecycle™ NYC FreeMeet!

WHEN: Saturday, April 18, 2009, 11am-3pm

WHERE: JJ Byrne Park (dead end on 4th Street b/t 5th Ave and the Old Stone House in the park) Park Slope, Brooklyn

WHY: New Yorkers discard some 12,000 tons of waste each day, much of which is exported to landfills and incinerators in other states. Here's your chance to help reduce waste and keep our environment clean by finding new homes for your old stuff, and getting some things you can use in the process. Leftovers will be donated or recycled to every extent possible.
WHAT TO BRING: Bring unwanted clothing, housewares and other reusable items* to share or simply bring a tote bag to fill. Bring friends and family too! Got wire hangers? Bring 'em to the FreeMeet so we can hang clothes and recycle the hangers afterwards.

MORE INFO: www.RecycleThisNYC.org/freemeet

*please bring portable items only and log on to http://www.freecycle.org/ to give away furniture and other heavy stuff.

Curb Alert!

Free Joe!
Date: Tuesday, April 14th

Time: 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: All Oren's Locations

Cost: Free

A new study reveals that drinking coffee before a workout helps you feel less pain and suffer less soreness. So take advantage of a free cup of the good stuff to get you to the gym tonight. Or to happy hour, whichever! Oren's Daily Roast is giving out a bit of a tax break this afternoon with free small coffees at all of their 9 locations from 4 to 7pm.

Store Locations:
Upper East Side:

985 Lexington Avenue (@ 71st Street)

1144 Lexington Avenue (@ 79th St.)

1574 First Avenue (bet. 81st & 82nd Sts)
Midtown:

830 Third Avenue (@ 51st St.)

Grand Central Market (in Grand Central Terminal)

Grand Central Cafe (in Grand Central Terminal)
Upper West Side:

2882 Broadway (bet 112th & 113th Sts.)
Downtown:

434 Third Avenue (bet 30th & 31st Sts)

31 Waverly Place (bet. University & Greene Sts)

We're all in this thing together

Sacrifice Your Sobriety, Not Your Money!Everyone knows that the only thing better than cheap stuff is free stuff--especially when it comes to stuff that can get you drunk (even if you have to drop a few bucks on something else to get your fix of booze). From a bottomless glass of boxed wine with dinner to free cosmos at the nail salon, these deals will help you get the most alcohol for your buck.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/list/66629

We've Got Work to Do - Ends Wednesday!!

112 Greene Street in Soho was the original home of 112 Workshop, a raw space open between 1970 and 1980, offering exhibition space for installation and performance for the new generation of conceptual and performance artists who emerged as the Vietnam War and racism were ripping the country apart. When the economy tanked in the 1970s, taking with it most commercial infrastructive for experimental art, urban artists settled into 112 Greene Street to create their own marginal, bootstrap model. As the economy "struggles" today, NYC's best street and urban artists are doing the same, bringing112 Greene Street's spirit alive again...that while meeting President Obama's call to cultural action with their collection that adorns the space's brick walls, wood, glass, ceilings, floors, doors, and unpredictably, its walls. Curated by Royce Bannon & the Endless Love Crew and the Combine. Runs through April 16.

Yes, she said RELAX!

As we reminded you a few weeks ago, Spa Week is a gift New York City gives to its tired and weak each year. The $50 spa treatment specials begin today and run until April 13-19, 2009.

For a list of participating spas, see http://www.spaweek.com/spas/New%20York

Happy Hour of the Week

Where: Paladar, 161 Ludlow St between Houston and Stanton Sts (212-473-3535). Subway: F to Lower East Side–Second Ave.

Why: All drinks half off

When: Everyday from 4pm-7pm, weekends included

Finding a place that serves good, strong mojitos, caipirinhas and margaritas for $4.50 is a rarity in Mahattan. But on the weekends too? That's like finding an apartment with a full tub, or a pinkberry without a line of schoolgirls. Throw in free baskets of tortilla chips with black-and-white bean dip, and you just might find yourself drinking away those weekday blues all the way into Saturday. And you can!

Low Roller Fun

10th Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival













Part of BAM about Brooklyn "A Decade of Keeping Our Music Alive"
April 1 - 30
Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium (CBJC)
1958 Fulton Street, Suite 300 A,

Get ready to treat yourself to the most unforgettable concert experience one of New York ’s hottest entertainment destinations can offer. Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium will spoil you with its month long jazz festival designed to present the world of Jazz in all its sub categories. Brooklyn CBJC's 10th jubilee celebration of an American original art form will feature:
Opening Day Free Community Concert (April 1st), jazz drum legend Roy Haynes (April 4th), Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Dave Valentin (April 16th), Houston Person (April 17th), Jazz: The Women's View Point (April 18th), Melba Moore (April 18th), Ronnie Mathews/Freddie Hubbard Tribute (April 19th), Jazz & The Fine Arts concert, BAMcafe Live weekend (April 24/25), Youth Jazz Jamboree/Wellness Day (April 25th), educational symposiums, programming for senior citizens and individuals with development disabilities, jazz performances, and conferences in churches, restaurants, clubs, and cultural institutions throughout Brooklyn.
More Info: 718.569.1896
or visit http://www.centralbrooklynjazzconsortium.org/

*******************************************************************************
MORE FITNESS Health + Wellness Expo 2009
Join us in New York City on April 24-25, 2009, for the Health + Wellness Expo featuring activities and information designed to motivate and energize all attendees. Activities and information will include:

-- health screenings,
--nutritional information,
--expert panels,
--free samples,
--sweepstakes,
--fitness apparel,
--and MORE and FITNESS editor meet-and-greets.
Location: Altman Building135 W. 18th Street (6th & 7th Avenues) New York City

Hours: Friday, April 24, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

**The Expo is free and open to the public.

We're all in this thing together

Is the recession making you sick?

Recession Anxiety Seeps Into Everyday Lives
By PAM BELLUCK
Published: April 9, 2009
Experts see signs that stress is becoming more common as a result of the economic downturn.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/health/09stress.html

The lunchbox is the new clutch

Recession girls need healthy, energy producing snacks to keep up with all the swindles and low rollin' fun available in NYC. One way to get your superfoods and save a little is to make your own trail mix. Instead of paying 6-7 bucks for a bag made with mostly peanuts and imitation m&m's you can buy all the ingredients separately and mix them yourself!
Here's the latest version I have experimented with:

1 20oz canister of mixed nuts (CVS sells a brand that has ZERO peanuts!)
1 bag of organic golden raisins from Trader Joe's
1 bag of organic (brown) raisins from Trader Joe's
1 bag of walnut halves and pieces (also from TJ's)
1 bag of dark chocolate m&m's (gotta get the antioxidants!)

Mix well with a large spoon in a big bowl. There should be enough gorp to fill at least 3 empty nut canisters, so it will last you for weeks...unless you share! Other variations have dark chocolate peanut m&m's, extra almonds, dried cherries or craisins, and even candied ginger.

Recession Gardens

According to CNN, many Americans are turning to gardens as a way to reduce food bills amid recession. Mike Metallo, spokesman for the National Gardening Association, claims that
a $70 investment in a garden will yield $600 in produce for the year.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/04/01/recession.garden/index.html

And now that Spring is here everyone, including the Obamas, is planting a garden.

(Check out the Huffington Post to see which vegetables are "worth a fist bump": http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-patricia-fitzgerald/obama-garden-watch-10-veg_b_183425.html)

However, if you are like RG and live in a NYC apartment, planting a garden in your backyard is not really an option. But many of us have access to rooftops where we can plant (vist: http://www.ehow.com/how_2096350_grow-rooftop-garden.html to learn how).

Other Recessionistas choose to participate in a community garden, where many people can grow enough veggies to sustain them throughout the summer. To find your nearest community garden accepting members, visit: greenguerillas.org

If you would like to buck the system and create a fire escape garden (which are technically illegal, and may incur a fine in some neighborhoods), visit:
http://brooklynbased.net/everything/fire-escape-of-dreams.

Recessionista Swindle of the Day

Exercise is supposed to be a stress-reliever, not a stress-inducer. But forking over wads of cash every month for a gym membership is enough to make you spin – and not in the calorie-burning way. Fortunately, if you have health insurance, most plans are now encouraging gym membership by partially subsidizing your afternoon stroll on the elliptical. Insurance plans will give up to hundreds of dollars per year with proof that you’re sweating it out regularly. Check your plan’s website, or call the customer service number on your card and find out what you need to do to start collecting.

April Showers......

Hanami: The Cherry Blossom Viewing Season
April 4- May 10

Hanami is the Japanese cultural tradition of viewing and cherishing each moment of the cherry blossom season, from the first buds, to the luminous blossoms, to the petals falling like pink snow. Visitors can enjoy a stroll under BBG's breathtaking collection of flowering cherries--the most anywhere outside of Japan--taste a special menu at the Terrace Café, and celebrate Sakura Matsuri, a two-day festival of Japanese culture for all ages on May 2 and 3.

Location
Brooklyn Botanic Garden (900 Washington Avenue) 11225

Cost

(RecessionGirl can fork out a tiny bit of cash to support this beautiful urban garden)
Adults $8; Seniors (65 and over) $4; Students 12+ with valid IDs $4; Children under 12 Free

Free Sex (talk)

GENDER, SCIENCE, AND DEMOCRACY, a free event moderated by Dr. Rogério Pinto and in conversation with Dr. Bradley Lewis will be taking place this evening, Tuesday April 7th in room C05 of the Columbia University School of Social Work located at 1255 Amsterdam Ave. A light dinner will be served from 6:30 to 7:00, followed by a presentation and discussion from 7:00 to 8:30.

Starting with an exploration of the ways in science has influenced our cultural understandings of sex and gender, we will look at the ways in which science and "evidenced-based practice" can be both dangerous and potentially protective when working with vulnerable populations. Particular focus will be placed on the power dynamics involved between researcher and subject, social worker and client/community, and researcher and social worker.

Race, Sexuality, & Social Justice: A View of the Future through the Lens of A Public Sociologist
Date: Tuesday, April 7th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus, Health Science Building, Room 119)
Cost: Free
"Dr. Battle is a Professor of Sociology and Public Health at the CUNY Graduate Center. He is a Fulbright Senior Specialist with a focus on race, sexuality, and social justice. He is a recent president of the Association of Black Sociologists and is actively involved in theAmerican Sociological Association. Recently, in partnership with the Social Science Research Council, he organized a national gathering of academics, activists, funders, and relevant stakeholders examining the intersections of race and sexuality." (from freenyc.net)

BYOB!

Even when she’s broke, a girl’s gotta eat. And less face it, drink. Seems like the one little luxury people aren’t willing to give up in hard times is our little escape, alcohol. Luckily, when you hit up a BYOB, you can bring wine so cheap – like recession-proof Bare Foot from Trader Joe’s at $5 a pop – that a date or dinner party puts not much more of a dent on the wallet than staying in and being boring. Here is our list of fave BYOBs in NYC – many worth trekking to Brooklyn for!

Manhattan

Kuma Inn
113 Ludlow St., 2nd Floor (between Delancey & Rivington)
212.967.0909
Filipino-Thai small plates
www.kumainn.com
"What better than some Southeast Asian tapas, sake and Tsingtao, and a mellow environment on a dreary night?"

Angelica Kitchen
300 East 12th St. NY, NY
http://www.angelicakitchen.com/
“Serving fresh, organic, and sustainable vegetarian fare in style.”

Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine
124 Macdougal St
New York, NY 10012-1247
Phone: (212) 777-8111
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/33070329/
“A perfect dinner spot if you need to have a conversation with someone -- not the typical NYC loud noises! Service is not speedy but reminiscent of service in Africa, so I think of it as genuine!”

A Café
French Caribbean
973 COLUMBUS AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10025
TEL: 212-222-2033
http://www.acafeny.com/

Cherin Sushi
Cheap, delicious rolls
6th Street (between 1st Ave and 2nd Ave)
212.388.1348
“Cheap, delicious rolls - Early bird special (before 8pm) buys 4 rolls for $12.95.”
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/cherin-sushi/

Cube 63 (LES)
63 Clinton St (between Rivington St & Stanton St)
212. 228.6751
Sushi
www.cube63.com
“The rolls were good, but overpriced. They seem to make up for the BYOB in the prices of their food.”

Ivo & Lulu
558 Broome St., nr. Varick St.
212.226.4399
French-Caribbean cheap eats
“Ivo and Lulu is the perfect dinner spot for you and your laid-back friends, the ones who don't mind waiting a little (or a lot) for your table, and are willing to crack open a beer on Broome Street until it's ready.”

Milon
93 First Avenue (between 5th & 6th streets)
212.228.4896
Little India
“The decor is fun, the staff entertaining (watching them compete for customers with the restaurant next door) and the food is great--tastes even better since it's so cheap. We come from Brooklyn just to go here.”

Poke
Sushi
343 E 85th St (between 1st Ave & 2nd Ave)
212.249.0569
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/poke-restaurant/
“This place is a gem on the UES.”

Tartine
French bistro
253 W. 11th St., at W 4th St.
212.229.2611
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/tartine/
“Best brunch in NYC! Get there early as the place is the size of a postage stamp.”

Brooklyn

Zaytoons
Middle Eastern
Two BYOB locations – Myrtle Ave and Smith Ave
http://www.zaytoonsrestaurant.com/

Abistro
154 Carlton Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11205 at Myrtle Ave (Ft. Greene). It's such a great restaurant.
French-Senegalese (owner & chef is Senegalese but classically trained in Paris)
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/abistro/
“The wait staff is so warm and inviting, you think you're with friends. I love this restaurant! It's perfect for brunch. It's like light soul food.”

Lucali
575 Henry Street, Carroll Street & 1st Place (Carroll Gardens)
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/lucali/
“Bring a bottle of wine and a six-pack and eat some amazing pizza!”

Ghang
Inexpensive Thai
204 Smith St Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 222-5598
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/ghang-thai/
“I know I will be acknowledged as soon as I walk in & the rest of the evening goes just as it should. Also, it is BYOB & there is no corkage fee, I cannot say enough about this place.”

Petite Crevette
144 Hicks St (at Between President Street and Union Street) Brooklyn, NY 11231 40.6841 -74.0021
http://brooklyn.citysearch.com/profile/44408646/brooklyn_ny/petite_crevette.html
“What you can expect is heartwarming charm, great seafood for an absolutely unbeatable price. There is no room for snotty, over-the-top, irrational personalities in Brooklyn.”

Olive Vine Cafe
Middle Eastern
441 Seventh Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215 (Park Slope)
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/olive-vine-cafe/
“Despite its imperfections, the quirks at this friendly spot make the dishes taste that much more homemade, successfully endearing it to the neighborhood.”

Free Movies

SINK INTO MOVIES
at Le Poisson Rouge this and next Monday
(even as we may or may not be sinking deeper into this recession)

Poisson Rouge is running a new Monday Night (FREE!) Film Series : Deeper Into Movies - A Selective History of Art-House CinemaDeeper into Movies has embarked on a journey through the history of art-house cinema throughout the world. Screened on (Le) Poisson Rouge’s 12 foot cinema projection screen in LPR's main performance space, with an unparalleled Meyer surround-sound system, you will have the rare opportunity to sit comfortably, enjoy a cocktail and order gourmet tapas from our full menu while enjoying some of the silver screen’s greatest films. So this Monday, April6 and next, have a drink and some popcorn, stick around afterwards in LPR's gallery for a specialty cocktails and dig deeper into movies.

04.06.09: The Cinema of Cuisine
Big Night (Campbell Scott, 1996)

04.13.09: New York Double Feature
Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989)
Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)

Le Poisson Rouge is located at 158 Bleeker Street. Doors open at 8:30 pm, movies start at 9:00 pm

We're all in this thing together

While even free drinks valued at $17 a pop isn't enough to convince RecessionGirl to endure the clientle that generally inhabit The Gansevoort's rooftop bar, tough times can certainly persuade us to employ a little harmless flirting at a chill east village dive. And with times this tough, everyone can be excused for digging a little low every once in awhile!

New York: Top 10 Places Where Dudes Will Buy You Drinks
http://tiny.cc/drlAj

Low Roller Fun

Tonight

FOUND: Your perfect night out
Free Wine, Art, and a Photo Booth!
When: Friday, April 3rd
Time: Free drinks 9-11pm, fee waived on club entrance after 11
Where:530 W 28th St (b/w 10th and 11th Ave)
Cost: FREE
MUST rsvp to: photoboothsalon@gmail.com

***************************************************

LIPSTICK ECONOMY

Opens TONIGHT between 6 and 9 at the Thierry Goldberg Projects, in the Lower East Side at 5 Rivington Street. Runs from April 3 to May 3

RecessionGirl is thrilled to see Swetlana Heger's latest performance-based exhibition called Lipstick Economy. As an affordable indulgence for morale-sake, lipstick sales have been noted to increase in trying economic times, indicating that just a little goes a very long way to altering one's look....and ability to weather difficult times. Referencing Leonard Lauder's loose theory in consumer confidence called his "lipstick index," "Heger explores the aesthetics (cosmetic and experiential) of art and self." On the heels, pumps, and sensible flats of the spiraling economy, Heger sets the Thierry Goldberg Gallery alive with her multi-layered dialogue on the economy, gender, and consumerism.....all marked by lipstick traces.

Free Beer this weekend!

Saturday & Sunday
Gowanus Yacht Club Opening Party
323 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY 11231 at President St. See Map Subway Directions

Recessionista Swindle of the Day

Every NYC girl knows what it's like to have one of those days - nothing is going right, you're feeling ugly or got yelled at at work, and you need a little summin-summin to make you feel better NOW. Rather than waste $7 (and 2000 calories) at Cold Stone, or worse yet $45 on some headband at Zara, take a note from Recessiongirl's boss (even bosses have bad days!) and hit up a nearby thrift store. While the foundation thrift stores are often more high end (Arthritis foundation, etc.) the regular ole goodwills and salvation armys - especially in neighborhoods like the Upper East or West Side - behold hidden gems. Roll up your sleeves and burn off some of that bad energy, and you may just discover something fantastic, like these jcrew cords RG's boss picked up for under $5. You'll have something new to take home, and feel fantastic about your find.