I don’t know about the rest of you, but Michael Kors forgot to send me my personal invitation to the big Fashion Week galas. Again. It’s almost like he doesn’t have any idea who I am, though I prefer to think that my rugged physique just intimidates him. Now granted the rest of you gentle readers might not share my chiseled abs, but I know that quite a few of you share my bitter disappointment and resentment at an industry that’s famous for forgetting it’s lowly roots the minute a designer gets big.

Lucky for us, the Internet elves who run www.etsy.com have allowed a growing community of small, local designers to flourish, and in doing so have granted us regular Joes and Janes our own little fashion extravaganza. That’s right, kids, some groovy young designers from the Etsy scene and the {NewNew} design co-op are throwing a fashion shindig at the Brooklyn Indie Market on the corner of Smith and Union Sreets to showcase new fall styles. This going-on is slated to happen on September the 18th, and with hours from 11am to 7pm, it’s friendly for those of us who don’t spend most of the day passed out after a massive coke bender. Admission is, in the finest tradition of local arts, free.

So what does this entail, you might be asking yourself as you idly pick your nose and wipe it on your vintage Armani suit. Well, nothing for you mister “I spent more on a pair of pants than the GDP of Malaysia”, but for the rest of us it’s a fun little break from hearing about the same small handful of over-hyped and over-exposed fashion stars. The highlight of the day will be a fashion show, slated to begin at 2pm, and featuring designers like Better Than Jam, KimmChi, and Lingua Nigra. In the words of one Brooklyn native, “I am so excited I’m going to burn all of my clothes immediately and walk around naked until I get to this thing or get arrested.” And while I certainly don’t (officially) condone public nudity, I have to admit to being somewhat excited about this event.

So this fall, just remember the poignant story of me and Michael. He doesn’t care about you or me, no matter how well his pants fit my ass. Remember it and remember that there are a lot of people with a lot of great ideas out there who don’t have offices on Fashion Ave. You’ve probably said hi to them at the grocery store and never even knew it, but these are the people who make the Brooklyn arts community the wonder that it is. So when the 18th rolls around, get off your lazy ass and go support your neighbors.

Deets:
September 18
11AM – 7PM
Smith Street and Union Street
www.brooklynindiemarket.com

Remember 2008? The heady days of the real-estate boom came crashing to a halt, global stock markets tanked, pensions were obliterated, thousands wound up jobless and out on the streets, and worst of all your bonus was slashed and with it your dreams of ever taking a real vacation again. Remember when “stay-cations” were in vogue, and people traded tips on how best to enjoy spending a week in your closet of an apartment with nothing to do but watch Telemundo for days at a time? I don’t, and if you pay attention you won’t have to spend your next long weekend trying to figure out why Ricardo broke up with his half-sister-cum-maid Roselita. Turns out there’s all kinds of amazing things to do in the tri-state area and beyond for less than the price of a couple days worth of pizza deliveries.

1. Montauk, NY

Across the arid wasteland that is Long Island, and past the over-rated ivory gates of the Hampton, sits a sere little beach town ripped out of a bad 70′s surf movie and overflowing with personality and some damn good eats and beautiful beaches. At just under 4 hours on the LIRRs appropriately named Montauk line, Montauk is a little further than more popular places like Jones Beach or the Jersey Shore, but makes up for it with atmosphere and the more laid back attitude that obscurity brings. Be sure to pack your drinking hat, as there are some great local bars and restaurants. Check out the Gig Shack for some great sushi and the cheesily named yet delicious fish Montacos, with live surf rock played outdoors at night. There’s enough to do that I wouldn’t dream of trying to cover it all here, but for more ideas check out the upcoming series on Montauk at The Daytripper blog.

2. Hamilton, NJ

And speaking of arid wastelands, down in the heart of New Jersey is a little treasure for the vacationer who loves art, peacocks, and amazing cuisine. Grounds For Sculpture is one of those places that will blow your mind every time you visit. A short train ride from Penn Station on the NE Corridor line to Hamilton, NJ and a jaunt on the 608 Bus will get you there for less than $20, and with admission ($12 adults), still leaves you plenty of money to enjoy the amazing Rat’s Restaurant, named for Ratty of The Wind in the Willows and serving food at both inside tables and out-doors picnic-style nooks. It’s a tad on the pricey side, with a 5 course dinner menu coming in at $85 plus tax and tip, but well worth the cost. The park itself consists of beautifully landscaped terrain randomly littered with sculptures ranging from a beautiful painted bronze rendition of Manet’s Le Dejuner sur l’Herbe to giant stone monoliths ripped from the fevered imaginations of people with more chisels than talent. Bring a good pair of shoes and be prepared to do a lot of hiking, since you won’t want to miss a single thing.

3. New Brunswick, NJ

While we’re appreciating the fine arts, why not support local aspiring artists with a trip to the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum just off the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University. Easily reachable via the Suburban Transit Bus from Port Authority or NJ Transit rail, and coming in at $3 per person, it is a cheap alternative to the usual museum scene. The museum hosts a lot of student art, so keep an eye out for promising up and comers. A good investment early can pay off huge when they make it big, and this is the place to scoop them young. Some call it exploitation, I call it good business sense. And when you’ve had your fill of art majors angsting about their lack of career prospects, or the museum closes at 4:30pm, take a stroll down to the campus proper for what college towns are all about: more bars per square foot than Republicans at a gay bondage convention. Before passing out in one of the very friendly gutters, make sure to check out the Grease Trucks, a local culinary feat that manages to stuff the entire contents of a food-truck meal into one sandwich. I heartily recommend the Fat Koko, a sub roll filled with marinara sauce, French fries, a cheese-steak, and mozzarella sticks.

4. Reading, Pennsylvania

Hanging out in art museums all day can be cool, for a certain pretentious subset of the population, but sometimes you need to ditch the culture in lieu of a good healthy dose of kitsch to get you through the week. Enter Roadside America: a quaint, for lack of a better word, roadside attraction in rural PA, just outside of Reading. Home of the Miniature village, it’s got a charm that can only be achieved by hundreds of painstakingly crafted little buildings arranged in village form. Think a trip into Amish country except without the threat of unpasteurized milk products and the kind of urban planning that is usually only found in third world nations and Little Home on the Prairie sound stages. If you like weird, the $6.75 admission is well worth it. Especially so if you’re an avid people watcher. Few places offer the opportunity to see such a motley band of tourists wandering around a perfectly to scale tiny city. If you have space in your closet sized apartment, make a stop to the Dutch Haus knickknack shop and pick up some awesome conversation pieces.

The bottom line is that there is absolutely no excuse to sit at home pining for the lost bonuses of yesteryear. There is way too much out there to do and see – even on a budget of small change and big dreams. If nothing else, you can always grab one of the inter-city buses (good guide here) and take it as far as you can afford. When you get there, find a little hole in the wall diner and ask the waitress about the coolest, most interesting – or just plain weirdest – local spot. If there’s one thing I’ve learned living in Jersey, you can never go wrong with a diner waitresses recommendation. So get off your ass, pack a day bag, and go find your own Rosalita on the open road.

A sweet coupon is tough to resist, but offers that appear too good to be true can be fraudulent. Coupons are easy to find and have become so popular that scammers regularly reared their ugly heads with sophisticated cons.

With a little experience and the following nine tips, you can spot these con artists and avoid being taken for a ride.

1. Never pay for coupons. If you have to pay for coupons, you’re not really getting a deal. And there’s a high likelihood you’re simply being scammed or the deal is available elsewhere online for free.

2. Watch for “bait and switch” tactics. This scam offers you online coupon codes and, once you agree, requires you fill in a form with personal information, including your credit-card details, passwords and other financial data. These “phishing” sites can result in your receiving a ton of email spam and a possibly having to deal with identity theft.

3. Look for legal lingo and expiration dates. Online coupons will have the same usage copy as those found in your newspaper. Make sure your coupon includes legal lingo reading: “Not to be altered, copied, transferred, purchased or sold.” Coupons lacking this line of copy are often altered copies of old, expired coupons.

4. Avoid online membership clubs or services. Many offer savings you could find elsewhere and require exorbitant fees. There’s something very wrong with paying $9.95 to register with a club then paying 10 percent of each coupon’s face value and a 75-cent shipping fee.

5. If a store refuses to accept an Internet coupon, send a letter or email to the company customer service department and provide the name of the store, the name of the person with whom you spoke, a copy or link to the coupon and where you got it.

Most retailers are familiar with online coupons by now, so you shouldn’t have a problem. Just in case, however, it helps to know many online coupon sources have agreements with grocery store chains. The failure of local store management to accept online coupons may only mean a break-down in training. Alerting the company customer service department should ensure you’re able to use your Internet coupons on your next trip to the store.

6. Keep an eye on the cash register. Make sure the printable coupon is applied to your total before you make the purchase. A discount will NEVER appear after you have purchased an item.

7. Use a reputable online coupon site like Coupon Sherpa.

8. Go straight to the source. Sign up for emails from the retailers you shop with to get coupons directly from the retailer.

9. Report fraudulent activities to the FTC. To file a complaint, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

There’s never a lack of events to hit up for a truly stellar weekend in New York.  NYC is the epicenter of the universe, spinning out the top singers, musicians, actors and dancers in every industry.  And to further spread the blanket of awesome talent, it plays host to some pretty badass comedy, as well.

For the astute lovers of comedy out there – and the jaded New Yorkers who think they’ve seen everything there is worth seeing in the city – you may want to check out the unbridled comedic chaos that is Colin Kane.  Since we normally cover budget events on this website, trust that we would not promote something that requires a two drink minimum unless we thought it was seriously worth it.

The Unzipped show, which is running at Comix on 14th Street, is an amalgamation of wit and coarse tact.  From the release:

With an acidic wit and unfiltered commentary, Colin Kane brazenly attacks the most taboo of subjects with a tenacity that’s equal parts ballsy and unabashed. Kane’s mass cult-like popularity and ascent into the spotlight has converted fans worldwide to his addictive brand of comedy.

Unzipped, his critically acclaimed headlining show, features an array of up-and-coming comedic talents with Kane’s perverse breed of humor reigning supreme. With a voice that’s at times both brutal and bracingly honest, Kane succeeds in delivering a riotous blend of crass and charm to the stage.

Tickets can be purchased on the Comix website, and LifeStyler readers can take $5 off the $15 advance tickets and $20 day of tickets by using this discount code:  “5kane”

LifeStyler readers can catch up with us after the show in the main upstairs bar chugging down $3 draft beers – just look for a semi-drunk redhead and a guy wearing a fedora.

Deets on the show:
Thursday, August 12
9:30PM
Comix
353 W.14 St.

Discount Code: “5Kane” for $5 off.

Living and dating in New York City are not always compatible endeavors. Work deadlines, long hours, inter-borough travel and an uneven mix of men and women make for an uphill climb that leaves most clinging to their excel spreadsheets and PBRs for safety. Yet, for all these difficulties, the twin obstacles of money and joblessness emerge as giant cock blocking tollbooths on the road to dating success.  Fortunately, I have nature on my side, i.e. the hot summer sun and, if they clouds part long enough, perfect weather for simple outdoors activities that are both fun and poverty-friendly.

The key to a good inexpensive first date is the same as any first date. It’s all about getting to know the other person and seeing if you want to have sex with them in the bathroom or raise kids together. And in this noble endeavor you shouldn’t be timid about employing some of the classic standbys of first dates.

I like to make like Dave Chappelle in Half-Baked and have a walking date. With its endless avenues and parks, Manhattan is made for walking, and in the summer time the only limits are dehydration and muscle spasms. You can spend hours simply walking and talking during a casual stroll. A quick meet up at Union Square can lead to most of the fun destinations in the Lower East Side and East Village, or you can plan to walk the Brooklyn Bridge and talk over the East River.

When I’m tired of walking I head indoors to the museums. My key go to spots are the American Museum of Natural History and the Met. The donations are suggested and while special exhibits are extra at the AMNH the regular exhibits, such as the 50-foot skeletal remains of a saurian land monster, it’s nothing to get jaded about. I usually donate a promise to pay better when I have the money and head straight to the Hall of Biodiversity or the Planetarium. When it comes to the Met I especially like the Modern Art exhibits. Which leads me to a very important truism: A shark in a glass tank never gets boring. In Brooklyn the first Saturday of every month features a free dance party held at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Festivities start early and go until 11pm.

Summer also bring many free movie events. Bryant park hosts free movie screenings featuring perfect dating gems like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Goldfinger and Bonnie and Clyde. Nothing says lovin’ like a gun-crazy shootout to the death, but like most events labeled free it’s a brobdingnagian clusterfuck and when I went there for the first time I spent a half hour walking around looking for seats with a date and half that getting out, so make sure to get there early. Another film favorite is Cine Meccanica, which features the best in 60’s and 70’s carsploitation every Tuesday night at 8pm at the basement of Arlo and Esme. Admission is free and a cup of popcorn awaits every viewer and as any fan of MST3K knows, there is nothing quite like sharing a bad movie with like-minded movie geeks.

For the finest in kitschy fun I head down to the East Village and check out Monday Night Bingo with Murray Hill and Linda Simpson. Happening every Monday, it is the go to spot for a bit of booze, light gambling and gender bending fun. Adhering to the above rule about free admission and clusterfuckery, I make sure to get there at 6pm or 7pm to snag a table. If you get there early enough you can catch Taylor Mead, 85-year-old alum of Andy Warhol’s Factory scene and dirty poet, who has his own show prior to Bingo.

And though these have always been good starts for cheap dates in the city I try to remember that any good date, no matter the cost, comes down to chemistry and communication between two people. I never try to force it and while I work at conversation at times, if I’ve picked the right partner in crime, the words will come naturally and without affectation. Remember, you have the elements on your side this summer, it’s a time to be as carefree as you want to be and remind yourself exactly why you love New York.

Photo credit:  clix

This is probably one of the most genius ideas to be born out of New York City as of late.  But then again, I’m a huge fan of dance and maybe I’m a little biased.  Regardless though, Liberated Movement is a new concept for dance classes – and as a former dancer myself, I can say it’s a hugely needed service in the New York metro area.

Housed in Tribeca’s Battery Dance Studios, Liberated Movement is an organization that offers a variation of donation based dance classes in an effort to combat the rising cost of dance classes in the city.

From the press release:

Liberated Movement TM is a grassroots initiative that provides donation-based dance classes in New York City. Our professional and up-and-coming teachers/choreographers host a variety of styles such as ballet, street jazz, hip hop, ethnic dance, etc. at Battery Dance Studios in TriBeCa (380 Broadway, 5th Floor b/w Broadway & White). Suggested donation is $5 but feel free to give what you want. For more information visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/liberatedmovement or email us liberatedmovement@gmail.com

While there are still walk in classes available in New York, most of them cost a good $18 to attend, with lowered prices per class when students purchase a group of classes in advance.  Liberated Movement’s $5 suggested donation will help students try out new classes without having to commit to a heavy pricetag or a longer commitment, while giving up-and-coming teachers a platform to practice and teach – a win/win for both parties.

A monthly class schedule can be found on the Liberated Movement website.

Believe it or not, Twitter can help you find a job.  Amidst all the micro-blogging inanity, there are actually serious people using it to learn about prospective employees.  Here are some ways to turn Twitter into your own private headhunter.

1.  Create a new Twitter account that is simply your full name.

If your full name is taken, try putting the last two digits of your birth year on the end, i.e. JohnSmith83.  Likewise, don’t put anything goofy as the background (or any background) and make the avatar a normal picture of yourself.  Don’t use this account for anything personal, and only tweet information that you would put on a resume.  If you have a personal Twitter account that contains anything like “just woke up in this weird girl’s apartment and I have no idea where I am,” then set your settings to private so that only followers can see you.  Then, if you have it linked to your Facebook, unlink it.  Everyone checks Facebook.

2.  Make a profile that resembles a CV.

List your interests, talents, what you’re looking for in a job and what you can bring to a company.  Don’t just copy and paste your resume; it’s too detailed for a profile and it just comes off as lazy.

3.  Start following everyone you know in your industry.

It’s not uncommon for people to tweet about job openings.  When you see one, either send a private message, or reply that you’re interested and give your contact information.  Do not reply using shorthand; it’s annoying and unprofessional.  Unless the job you’re applying for involves Mesopotamia, there is no possible reason to say “ur”.

4.  Use services like TwitJobSearch to locate jobs.

Twitjobsearch.com allows you to search for keywords in tweets that contain relevant hashtags like #jobs or #hiring.  This is a quick and easy way to see who is tweeting what job openings.  If you see one you like, don’t be afraid to follow that person.  They may later retweet another job opening, which will give you another source to follow.  There are also Twitters dedicated to posting job openings like @jobangels, @jobshouts and @twithire. These have thousands of followers though, so be sure to reply as quickly as possible.

5.  Post links to articles you find interesting from relevant trade papers.

This shows that while you may be out of work, you’re not out of the game.  Twitter will soon be offering the ability to post pictures and video without side services like Twitpic and Vimeo.  There will be very few professional-looking applications of this, so steer clear until someone with a better imagination finds one.

So use common sense, keep it professional, and above all else don’t get discouraged. More and more employers are using Twitter all the time.  Good luck out there!

Photo credit:  magerleagues via Flickr

Today, further leaving the Creation Museum in the dust, the American Museum of Natural History released the AMNH Explorer app. Designed as a portable dummy docent, the application allows users to navigate their way around the 140 specimens in 45 exhibit halls and through the various theaters, shops and, most importantly, restrooms. Using either an iPhone, iPad or iPod visitors to the museum can download and browse through virtual museum exhibits and plan out personal tours or, for days when you decide to drink before your visit, follow pre-set tour paths set to specific lengths and themes.

The AMNH underwent considerable effort to incorporate a vast free wireless network (take note all you wi-fi sharks) to essentially create an “indoor GPS” system that allows the user to locate their step-by-step position within the Museum and search for specific exhibits, such as the blue whale or the Dinosaur Mummy, with precise directions guiding them to their destination. At the time I was using one of the 350 dedicated free loaner devices to navigate the museum, which I would recommend as the wi-fi connection had trouble finding my location within the museum using my own iPhone. To aid any of the technologically recalcitrant, there are 25 summer volunteers, clad in blue, ready and able to assist with managing the explorer app.

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The tours are set out to follow the highlights of each exhibit or the museum itself and provide brief information about the science behind the exhibits and, when visited, the exhibit page on the app marks it as visited providing a bonus piece of information about the exhibit or specimen. Though the AMNH is not wanting for visitors, hopes are that the app will be a draw and add another dimension to the tour.  “This system will enhance the visitors’ appreciation for the Museum’s world-renowned collections by combining the traditional audio guide interpretive tour with navigational GPS functionality to provide a new generation of visitors with an unparalleled self-guided Museum experience,” said Erana Stennett of Bloomberg.

For those of you just busting to announce your love of the American Museum of Natural History, the Explorer app allows for posting specific exhibit viewings to your Facebook or Twitter. Or, if you’re in a position to sleuth, try the treasure hunt function and track down exhibits by detecting clues.

At final look, the Explorer app is a fun accessory to the main museum experience, but it is by no means the point in and of itself. The experience is between you and the sense of history and the wonder it should impart in you when you finally realize the distance between you and the long chain of biology that led to who you are now. But by all means, come and investigate Explorer – just remember to explore history as well.

College students aren’t the only ones these days looking for places to intern.  Recent graduates and even unemployed professionals are turning to internships to get regain some traction in the job market. 

While getting into a much sought-after internship program is a great way to learn more about a given industry, some intern positions don’t necessarily give a good preview of what life would be like down that career path.  But luckily not every internship is about getting coffee and filing, and some offer great programs and networking events as they rely heavily on their programs when they’re looking for new hires. If you want to start off your career at the right place, check out these top NYC internships:

Fashion

Nordstrom’s internships are open to college undergraduates who are studying fashion merchandising or retail management. A great hands-on experience, this internship is highly recommended by NYC area fashion professors thanks to its structured program that gives students a chance to work in every department.

Media

There’s no doubt that NBC has a huge presence in NYC, so their internship program is clearly one of the top in the city. Interns will work closely with producers and talent while human resources offer networking Q&A sessions with some of the top executives in the company. Plus, an internship here will be a great stepping stone into the famous NBC Page program, made famous on ’30 Rock.’

Sports

The New York Islanders have been popping up all over the media for their internship program, called Islanders University. Interns rotate between all of the departments during the intensive program, making connections and learning how the team is kept running. It doesn’t hurt that the team also just announced they have an official NY Islanders cupcake.

Accounting

Any accounting major will tell you that Ernst & Young is the internship to die for. The program offers real career training since the company is known for pulling new hires straight out of the internship program. The company even offers an International Intern Leadership Conference.

Science

NYC is home to some of the best hospitals in the world, so take advantage of some of the programs you’ll find at top hospitals. Psychiatry students should check out NY Presbyterian, while medical students flock to programs found in hospitals like Sloan-Kettering.