He slipped a copy of Twilight inside that book.via Hot Guys Reading Books.

Hey sad young literary people: The interns over at n+1, the highbrow literature and culture magazine, launched a personals Tumblr (where else) just for you. The interns read and post submissions from date-seekers at their discretion, PLUS they sort through all inquiries and direct them to the appropriate companion-seeker. It seems like a lot of power to give an unemployed Brown grad over your love life, but it is a free dating service and probably offers a better caliber of folk than OKStupid. (Though here’s hoping there are no mix-ups — I’d hate to see an Alexander Pope fan matched with a John Dennis supporter.) (more…)

This sweater was just one cent. No, really.

Picture it. Spring, 2008. The euro was trouncing the dollar. The Democratic party was in turmoil, split between the experienced vanguard and the young upstart. I had just survived the fourth round of layoffs at my job. And I was sitting on a $40 Bloomingdales gift card that a family member had given me the previous Christmas. All I needed was a whimsical but chic Marc Jacobs top at 60 percent off and the world would be right.

At the time, I actually lived near the uptown Bloomingdales store. I’d stop in frequently with the gift card, quickly realizing the only floor I could afford was the second and that the only time to go was Monday evenings right before close, after the Eurotrash had moved on from their shopping to the 8pm shows in Times Square. But being just $40, the gift card made buying anything a challenge. (more…)

When is it worth braving the full-contact shopping?

We all know Trader Joe’s houses a bounty of economical delights and a helpful army of Hawaiian-shirted staffers… but, guh, the fustercluck of a crowd, always, during most of the store’s hours. And oy, for many of us, the schlepping. So here’s what’s worth dragging your cart on the subway and getting mauled by urban assault strollers for, and what’s better bought at your corner bodega. (more…)