I am ... car parts. At the Guggenheim.

Between the Cindy Sherman retrospective and the Diego Rivera murals at the MOMA, John Chamberlain’s car parts at the Guggenheim, the Whitney Biennial and the incomparable Stein Family’s treasures at the Met, there is a veritable cacophony of culture on show at New York’s best museums this spring. But we’re Brokelyn, so we’re going to show you how to do it all on the cheap/free. We have covered NYC’s free or pay what you wish museum viewing times, but these are usually very busy, especially during popular exhibits. There are other ways you may not know about to get a good deal on some soul-expanding art experiences, so read on. (more…)

With reproductive rights in the news this week, we decided to take a look at abortions in Brooklyn — namely where they’re offered, how much they cost, and what online reviewers have said about the borough’s providers. It’s not our usual light fare here on Brokelyn, but we hope those who need this information will find it useful if and when. The following was culled from online sources, clinic calls and, in some cases, site visits. As always, if you have more to add, such as reviews of the clinics mentioned as well as those we missed, please pipe up in the comments.  (more…)

Grant on the job. Photo by Lilly Frances.

Late last year a friend of mine moved to Alaska, leaving behind her well-loved bicycle. Both tires were flat, the chain was rusted and the brakes were worn down to nubs, but the body was in good condition and the price was right. After a near-disastrous test drive of my brake-less bicycle into oncoming traffic, I realized I first had some essential repairs to make. I spoke to the ever-helpful Grant Harding at Ride Brooklyn in Park Slope about the best and cheapest way to get my bike ready — and which repairs I could reasonably do myself. (more…)

Dr. Bronner: Budget hero or guy who tricked you into putting soap in your mouth?

According to the wacky, cultish 3,000-word rant on the label, when combined with adequate sleep, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap has the power to “clean body-mind-soul-spirit instantly uniting one! All-One!” I’m not sure exactly what that means, but the soap boasts more than 18 uses: a toothpaste and a household cleaner; a pet wash and a cure for lice. With eight varieties (one of which is only $8.99 at Trader Joe’s), this “magical multi-tasker” could be the solution to many of our financial freak-outs at the pharmacy register. So with a bottle each of peppermint and rose soap in hand, I set out to find out which of “Doctor” Emanuel Bronner’s loftiest claims to embrace, and which to avoid. (more…)

Salt eats boots, even expensive ones

Having just moved to Brooklyn last year from sunny Sydney, this is the first time I’ve had to battle a true, brutal winter. Initially excited over the prospect of looking chic while drinking hot cocoa and building snowmen, I brought with me a pair of lovely expensive black leather boots, which I promptly dunked in six inches of briny melted snow. As they dried out by the heater, rings of crusty white salt appeared, then worsened. Concerned over the future of the only nice pair of shoes in my possession, I went to the N11th Shoe Repair to ask shoe doctor “Uncle” Clever Vercose for his diagnosis and money saving tips. (more…)