Why didn't the movie Hackers inspire more female hackers?

Attention all you girls who daydream of a place to hack the interwebs in peace: you’re going to love this. Marc Hedlund, Etsy’s VP of Engineering, announced on their site that due to the deplorable lack of females in the field of engineering, and particularly in companies like the Dumbo-based Etsy, they’ll be sponsoring $50,000 in need-based grants for summer study at The Hacker School in NYC. The founders of the school describe it as “a three-month, immersive school for becoming a better programmer. It’s like a writers’ retreat for hackers.” And Etsy is making it free to attend, including housing and meals! (more…)

Last year's winning design by Melissa Schmechel.

Do you have rampant enthusiasm for the “cornerstone beverage of civilization” throughout the ages? Put more simply, do you love beer? Sixpoint Brewery is now accepting submissions for their popular (now third annual) “Beer is Culture” art contest and has upped the ante by offering free art museum memberships to the finalists, through which you can express your admiration for beer and its place in our world. Create any sort of art that captures the theme “Beer is Culture,” submit it to their Facebook page before April 30, and watch as fans vote on their favorites. Finalists, announced May 1, receive “unique prizes” from the brewery, as well as an annual membership to the art museum of their choice. The grand winner also gets his or her artwork splashed across the Sixpoint Facebook page for the next whole year. So take this opportunity to practice your art, let someone else promote you, and plan a few beer-soaked cultural Saturdays at your favorite museum.

Beastanetics in action.

If you’ve finally realized that winter didn’t come at all, but you still ate and sat around sluggishly like it was winter, you’re not alone. (The group meeting’s over here!)

We all know the best way to burn serious calories is by paying an instructor to force you, through shame or otherwise. Starting next Monday, broke people can get hot and fit (hotter and fitter?) too. Tim Haft, creator of Punk Rope — which has its roots at the Greenpoint YMCA –  is offering boot camp classes he calls “Beastanetics.” And since I’m writing about it, it’s obviously free. (more…)

Roberto Gonzalez, photo courtesy of TimeOutNY.

Like all New Yorkers, I daydream about how different my life would be if I didn’t have to fork over obscene amounts to my landlord for the privilege of living in the world’s greatest city. Roberto Gonzalez was one of us once too, but claims he’s learned to work the ins and outs of the real estate market to his benefit. He offers to share his secrets with you through a hugely popular Skillshare class “Life Hack: how to Live Rent-Free in NYC.” And, according to his former students, he delivers on his promise to inform and advise, starting the class with a tip that will save you at least $300 but up to $1000. (more…)

Snow small wonder, these cake pops from Pinterest. Nice work, Tori Jayne.

Thank goodness DIY everything is still the rage this year, so we can all sneak in another year of homemade gift-giving without looking like the family cheapskate. And now there’s Pinterest.com, a social media hub where crafty fashion, food and decorating obsessives share their latest inspiration (Aaand now you will never get at least 4 hours of your life back…  happy browsing!). The virtual pinboard is also a veritable font of DIY gift ideas we want to try this year. Here are 10: (more…)

Mom took the empty nest syndrome poorly this year.

My sister and I make a point to sit down with stacks of awkward family holiday photos every Christmas and relentlessly harpoon the subjects’ crocheted reindeer sweaters or family update letter drama. But it’s time to turn the tables. On Thursday from 6-9pm, EtsyLabs in DUMBO is hosting “Making Smiles Bright: A Holiday Photo Card Event” where you can recreate awkward holiday photos with your urban family to turn into digital cards, or discounted printed cards. They will have three settings to choose from: I’m Dreaming of a (Black and) White Christmas, Jingle Bell Bottoms and My Yule Log Has Something to Tell You (a Twin Peaks-inspired ski lodge coziness). The event is $5 and all of the stages are furnished with decor from Etsy itself. (more…)

Spend a holiday with grandma, without spending too much.

As we get hyped up for the holidays and seasonal family plans, it is easy to forget that many people will spend their Thanksgivings, Christmases and Hanukkahs in a hospital receiving treatment. That’s hardly a feel-good reminder, but for people who must be in the hospital, it’s often the little things that help. Via a reader tip (thanks Donald!), we found out New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn offers accommodations for the families of patients on site for a crazy cheap $50 a night. They’re not the only hospital with that kind of deal either. (more…)

Nacho ordinary party, not your ordinary grilled cheese

Have you ever had a NACHO grilled cheese sandwich before?? Let’s just say that If you’re planning on bringing your A game to win a contest or two at Sunday’s Brokedown Throwdown, you’re not alone. Steve Cusato, Dave Cusato and John Coppola of The Food Freaks grilled cheese truck will be posting up outside Public Assembly and bringing a specialized menu of grilled cheese-related gourmet food, as well as their famous fried Brussel sprouts, one bite of which erased my childhood fear of the veggie. It all looks like a good way to soak up that hour of Sixpoint open bar while preparing for your turn on the MUSTACHE RIDE!

The Freaks’ truck recently became operational, fulfilling the guys’ dream to serve the people with delicious, re-invented food options. And they’re some of the nicest dudes I’ve ever met, to boot. Here’s an advance look at the warm gooey goodness the Food Freaks will be serving up. (more…)

One of prop lots up for grabs Nov. 3.

We know you stalk those pink filming notices they post all over hoping to catch a glimpse of Mariska, Chuck Bass or Jonathan Ames (sorry, 2 Broke Girls is filmed in Los Angeles). Now, you might actually be able to own a prop used on one of their sets! If you’re interested in cool things like bar stools, tables, couches and random background decorations at super low prices, all benefiting a good cause, check out the Krrb and Film Biz Recycling event Lights, Camera, Auction on Nov. 3. Entry is $10, but once inside, the treasure trove of New York film and TV show sets is yours to ogle while eating $1 Oaxaca tacos, drinking free Brooklyn Brewery beer and jamming to live music. (more…)

Already looking forward to the summer.

McCarren just became the first of the five Brooklyn park set to receive free wifi, thanks to tech ninjas who installed the routers quietly over the weekend. While Brooklynites all sat around, none the wiser, stealing wireless from the downstairs neighbor as usual, I donned my sturdiest flannel, braved the cold wind and set out to test drive the new signal before others discovered it and starting hogging my bandwidth. Sure, they installed it just in time for the part of the year when the parks won’t exactly be crowded all day, and the service is only free for a bit before you have to pay [Updated below]. But does it work well enough to make it worth lugging your laptop and travel coffee mug down to the park?  (more…)